15:35 Goodwood

Friday 2 August 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4017:15

King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 56.2s

(5)

Battaash⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 123| BF| CD

1/4

Star sprinter who won this race for the second time in fine fashion last year. Followed up his Haydock Group 2 success with a fine second in the King's Stand and very hard to beat back down in class, despite having to concede weight all round.

Form: 2144-12

(10)

Copper Knight^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 106| BF| D

14/1

Listed winner at York last time out, staying on gamely in the closing stages. Has much more on his plate here though and he would need a career best to hit the frame.

Form: 213021

(3)

El Astronaute¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 111| CD

7/1

C&D winner and a very fast sprinter who has won twice already so far this campaign in Ireland. Versatile with regards ground and while he may struggle to get the better of Battaash, he rates as a live each-way contender.

Form: 669112

(7)

Judicial^h¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 105| D

28/1

Not the most consistent but he was a Group 3 winner at Sandown last year in a decent race and landed a match race at Newmarket in game fashion last month. May be able to land some prize money and finish in the places.

Form: 105-701

(8)

Ornate⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Phil Dennis| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 104| D

33/1

Made it five wins for the season at Beverley in June and may have done too much too soon at Ascot last time. However, needs plenty more in this company to land any sort of blow.

Form: 159116

(4)

Houtzen^b⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: M Meade| OR: 108| D

16/1

Group 3 winner in Australia and got her head back in front in Listed class at Doomben (5f) in December. Well beaten at Ascot on UK debut last time though and has a fair amount to find on form.

Form: 2561-08

(11)

Rebecca Rocks⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Harry Bentley| T: H Candy| OR: 96| CD

25/1

Made it four wins from her last five starts when landing a Listed race at Ayr on return from a one year absence last time out but as her official mark suggests, she looks up against it in this company.

Form: 31/116-1

(6)

Rumble Inthejungle²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: L Dettori| T: R Spencer| OR: 105| CD

10/1

Won two of his first three starts including a C&D success in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes but he's been out of sorts subsequently and recent signs suggest he hasn't trained on.

Form: 4193-97

(9)

Big Brothers Pride¹¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Francois Rohaut| D

7/1

Won on debut and while she was too keen on her seasonal reapperance at Chantilly in Listed class, she improved markedly for that run when a Group 3 winner back at that venue last time. Less exposed than most and has place claims.

Form: 1-81

Non-Runners

(2)

Intense Romance⁵⁵

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: M Dods J: B A Curtis

(1)

Little Kim⁶

Weight: 8-10| Age: 3

T: K R Burke J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Battaash (1/4), El Astronaute (7/1), Big Brothers Pride (7/1), Rumble Inthejungle (10/1), Copper Knight (14/1), Houtzen (16/1), Rebecca Rocks (25/1), Judicial (28/1), Ornate (33/1), Little Kim (66/1), Intense Romance (66/1)

There's seemingly not a lot of strength in depth in this contest and it's hard to envisage BATTAASH getting beat in his bid for a third straight renewal of this race having looked as good as ever in two starts this year. Course and distance winner El Astronaute ought to hit the frame with a repeat of his latest form while Big Brothers Pride gets all the allowances and is an interesting contender from France with a less exposed profile than her rivals.