Delegator Is Godolphin's Champ for QE II
Delegator won the Craven Stakes under other colours--now is Godolphin champion. Update: Failed drug test and lost race.
Frankie Dettori's agent, Ray Cochrane, is looking for a seventh ride Saturday for his friend in hopes of his riding seven winners on Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Day as he did 12 years ago. The "magnificent seven" Dettori is represented in a large on-course sculpture.
Dettori just won his first Ayr Gold Cup Saturday on Jimmy Styles (Inchinor) for Clive Cox and is in top form.
Question is: are the horses?
Godolphin has chosen Delegator (Dansili) to carry the 'blue' in the eponymous Group 1 QEII race, Long Lashes USA (Rock Hard Ten USA) in the Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile with Moonlife, Frozen Power, Vale of York and possibly Muslah in other races on the day.
Aiden O'Brien is expected to confirm three-year-old Rip Van Winkle IRE (Galileo IRE) and/or Mastercraftsman IRE (Danehill Dancer IRE) as Ballydoyle's champion with three others as pacemakers.
Both horses have had very hard races against Sea The Stars IRE (Cape Cross IRE) and may not be at their best. Rip has an ongoing foot problem.
Angus Gold, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's racing manager, set the QEII as Aqlaam's (Oasis Dream) principal target after winning the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August.
He left the only filly, Ghanaati USA (Giant's Causeway USA), in the race until Thursday's declarations.
She is more likely to compete in the fillies' Sun Chariot at Newmarket in October and does not need another hard race against colts. She was third to Rip in Glorious Goodwood's Sussex Stakes and ended up with a sore back.
With Rip an uncertainty, punters are at loggerheads over which horse could win with firm advocates in the Rip, Aqlaam and Delegator corners slating each others' choices.
Both four-year-old Aqlaam and three-year-old Delegator are fresher horses coming off confidence-boosting victories. We have not seen the best of either's form yet.
If Rip is out, it could be a race of Al Maktoum brother vs brother.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 9/24/2009 10:11 AM 
Categories: Ascot QE II 2009
Tags: Ascot QE II 2009
Categories: Ascot QE II 2009
Tags: Ascot QE II 2009
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