The Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (3:40) at Ascot has enjoyed a renewal in the past decade and this year’s line-up promises to be one of the best races of the season.
The Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (3:40) at Ascot has enjoyed a renewal in the past decade and this year's line-up promises to be one of the best races of the season.
The market is currently headed by the Epsom Derby first and second Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel, who represent the Classic generation and receive a handy weight allowance from their elders. Aidan O'Brien's Auguste Rodin completed the Derby double when taking the Irish equivalent at the Curragh in early July and it's probably not controversial to say that he did not impress in the same way as Epsom. He was always kept prominent by Ryan Moore, but had to be put to work in the closing stages to pull away from stablemate Adelaide River. The prices of the first four home (8/11, 33/1, 80/1, 66/1) indicates it was not a vintage renewal of the race.
Although King Of Steel did not beat any superstars in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, the big colt was visually impressive as he cruised to the front at three furlongs out and drew clear to win by three-and-a-half lengths. After only four starts, it appears Roger Varian's charge is still improving and connections are confident that the ground conditions will not hamper his chances. That said, King Of Steel's only disappointing career run came on heavy ground when seventh behind Auguste Rodin in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity as a juvenile and it would not take much more rain for the Ascot ground to head in that direction.
Hukum is the market's favoured option of the older horses, having lowered the colours of last year's Derby hero Desert Crown in the Group 2 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown Park on seasonal reappearance and soundly beaten Pyledriver in last year's Coronation Cup. The six-year-old has plenty of winning form on soft ground and has scored over longer than twelve furlongs, which is an obvious advantage in a race which could turn into a stamina test.
This year's Group 1 Coronation Cup victor Emily Upjohn returns to her favoured twelve furlongs after suffering little in defeat against Paddington in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park. She was not herself when finishing sixth of six in last year's renewal of the race, having pulled hard in the early stages and her subsequent starts have shown that the four-year-old is very capable at the top level. She produced a devastating turn of foot when defeating Westover in the Coronation Cup and Frankie Dettori knows the filly well.
Despite some top-level opposition, preference is still given to last year's winner Pyledriver. Although his overall book of form does not compare to the dazzling exploits of the aforementioned challengers, the six-year-old is a completely different horse over twelve furlongs at Ascot. He out-ran all expectations when taking the 2022 King George by two-and-three-quarter lengths despite hanging in both directions in the closing stages. Although the Muir and Grassick team had indicated Pyledriver may not be ready for his seasonal reappearance, the horse looked better than ever in the paddock at Royal Ascot and was an easy winner in the Group 2 Hardwick Stakes over course and distance. Soft ground would be a question mark but his price of 15/2 makes plenty of appeal with a three-from-three record in these conditions.
WIN: PYLEDRIVER
