Tactics or a Straight Race?
Despite the much-lamented absence of Sea The Stars Ire (Cape Cross Ire) in the Betfair King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1), 1m 4f, for 3yo+, it stacks up as an interesting race.
Unfortunately, the punters want the stars and they have overlooked the quality and balance of six older horses, two of which are world campaigners, opposing two or three Classic generation horses.
Aiden O'Brien is following his usual tactics of entering two ripe competitors though ostensibly not his first string: Frozen Fire Ger (Montjeu Ire), four, and Golden Sword (High Chapparel Ire), three, with pacemaker Rockhampton Ire (Galileo Ire).
Golden Sword will be ridden by Ballydoyle's first jockey Johnny Murtagh. The attractive colt has shown great promise as a very progressive three-year-old.
Sir Michael Stoute clearly means business with three older horses. He has entered Coronation Cup winner Ask (Sadler's Wells USA) to be ridden by French ace Olivier Peslier, Conduit Ire (Dalakhani Ire) chosen by champion first jockey Ryan Moore after much deliberation and Tartan Bearer Ire (Spectrum Ire) with Sea The Stars' veteran rider Michael Kinane.
Both Conduit and Tartan Bearer are owned and bred by Ballymacoll Stud.
On form, Stoute's team is hard to beat and I expect each of his riders will try to bring his horse into the Winners' Circle.
Always the questions lurk: will all the horses run for themselves or will team tactics enhance or spoil the race?
Having a good pacemaker helps and Rockhampton is selfless.
Given that team tactics have become common, it is almost an oddity that the race has three lone rangers.
Last year's talented Oaks winner Look Here (Hernando Fr) was an unlucky third to Ask in the Coronation Cup and has the highly-motivated Seb Sanders on board the four-year-old filly.
Trainer Richard Hannon would not enter his likable and quirky four-year-old Scintillo (Fantastic Light USA) if he did not think his son-in-law Richard Hughes had a chance to bring him home.
The real dark horse (who might not be confirmed Friday) is Alwaary USA out of hot, young sire Dynaformer USA and Tabrir Ire (Unfuwain USA). He is a home bred at Shadwell Stud LLC.
He is highly-rated three-year old, but is the least experienced. His trainer John H M Gosden will decide tomorrow if the horse stays in the race.
Alwaary would be dropped in the deep end, but he has Richard Hills steering and could pull an upset.
I will not be in the Ascot paddocks so I cannot tip the race on the day.
Unfortunately, the punters want the stars and they have overlooked the quality and balance of six older horses, two of which are world campaigners, opposing two or three Classic generation horses.
Aiden O'Brien is following his usual tactics of entering two ripe competitors though ostensibly not his first string: Frozen Fire Ger (Montjeu Ire), four, and Golden Sword (High Chapparel Ire), three, with pacemaker Rockhampton Ire (Galileo Ire).
Golden Sword will be ridden by Ballydoyle's first jockey Johnny Murtagh. The attractive colt has shown great promise as a very progressive three-year-old.
Sir Michael Stoute clearly means business with three older horses. He has entered Coronation Cup winner Ask (Sadler's Wells USA) to be ridden by French ace Olivier Peslier, Conduit Ire (Dalakhani Ire) chosen by champion first jockey Ryan Moore after much deliberation and Tartan Bearer Ire (Spectrum Ire) with Sea The Stars' veteran rider Michael Kinane.
Both Conduit and Tartan Bearer are owned and bred by Ballymacoll Stud.
On form, Stoute's team is hard to beat and I expect each of his riders will try to bring his horse into the Winners' Circle.
Always the questions lurk: will all the horses run for themselves or will team tactics enhance or spoil the race?
Having a good pacemaker helps and Rockhampton is selfless.
Given that team tactics have become common, it is almost an oddity that the race has three lone rangers.
Last year's talented Oaks winner Look Here (Hernando Fr) was an unlucky third to Ask in the Coronation Cup and has the highly-motivated Seb Sanders on board the four-year-old filly.
Trainer Richard Hannon would not enter his likable and quirky four-year-old Scintillo (Fantastic Light USA) if he did not think his son-in-law Richard Hughes had a chance to bring him home.
The real dark horse (who might not be confirmed Friday) is Alwaary USA out of hot, young sire Dynaformer USA and Tabrir Ire (Unfuwain USA). He is a home bred at Shadwell Stud LLC.
He is highly-rated three-year old, but is the least experienced. His trainer John H M Gosden will decide tomorrow if the horse stays in the race.
Alwaary would be dropped in the deep end, but he has Richard Hills steering and could pull an upset.
I will not be in the Ascot paddocks so I cannot tip the race on the day.
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 7/23/2009 8:30 PM 
Categories: Ascot King George VI 2009
Tags: Ascot King George VI 2009
Categories: Ascot King George VI 2009
Tags: Ascot King George VI 2009
Comments