15:35 Goodwood

Friday 29 July 2022

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 56.46s

(9)

Lazuli^t⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 109| D

11/2

Smart gelding who resumed winning ways in Group 2 at Meydan (5f) in February by 1½ lengths from Acklam Express. Failed to land any sort of blow in King's Stand at the Royal Meeting on reappearance last month so needs to get back on track back down in grade.

Form: 167-219

(10)

Acklam Express⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Rowan Scott| T: N Tinkler| OR: 110| CD

13/2

Excellent second in Group 2 at Meydan behind Lazuli in February and bounced back from a couple of lesser efforts when 4½ lengths third in King's Stand (200/1) at Royal Ascot last month. However he's not won since his 2-y-o days (which included a C&D victory) and this looks another tough assignment.

Form: 80-2743

(8)

Clarendon House³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: S De Sousa| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 105| D

16/1

Progressive sprinter last year, winning 4 of his 6 starts. Made the most of a good opportunity to score at Beverley last month but he was below form back up in grade in a listed event at Chantilly since. Likely to come up short once again.

Form: 1-24615

(1)

Equilateral¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 107| D

14/1

Has proved he retains a lot of ability in 3 outings this term, latest when 1¾ lengths third in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh just under a fortnight ago, looking more of a threat than he proved to be approaching the final 1f. Not discounted. Yard also saddles Khaadem.

Form: 114-563

(5)

Existent^t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Marco Ghiani| T: S C Williams| OR: 106| D

33/1

Much improved since switched to sprinting for this yard, landed back-to-back AW handicaps at the start of the year. Back to form after a couple of below-par efforts when 1½ lengths fourth to Raasel in Sprint Stakes at Sandown earlier this month but he's come up short at this level previously.

Form: 562504

(7)

Khaadem^b⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: C Hills| OR: 108| C| D

8/1

Smart gelding who made all in Palace House Stakes at Newmarket (5f) 3 months ago by neck from Existent, able to get away having raced on his own throughout. Those tactics could be more difficult to pull off here but he's 1 of 2 from yard who have dominated the race recently with Battaash.

Form: 518-381

(6)

Ponntos^t⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: L Dettori| T: M N Nieslanik| OR: 109| D

6/1

Czech raider who returned much improved with all-the-way victory under this rider in 5f Group 3 Prix de Saint-Georges at Longchamp in May. Well held in King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on first start on these shores last month and that France win remains very much a stand out on his record.

Form: 1635-10

(3)

Raasel²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: James Doyle| T: M Appleby| OR: 108| CD

3/1

Has thrived for connections since he returned to turf last season, winning 6 handicaps (2-2 over C&D). Took form up a notch when landing listed race at Haydock in May and continued his remarkable rise with Group 3 win at Sandown (by neck from Mitbaahy) earlier this month. Major player.

Form: 1-51211

(2)

Caturra^p1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: C G Cox| OR: 106| BF| D

22/1

Listed/Group 2 winner as a juvenile. Back to somewhere near his best when third in Scurry Stakes at Sandown early last month but ran below form with no obvious excuse when down the field in listed event at York since. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 15-2538

(4)

Mitbaahy²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 107| BF| D

5/1

Built on a good reappearance run when taking 5f Hamilton conditions race and took a big step forward when stylish winner of Sandown listed event. Progressed further and looked unlucky not to win when neck second to Raasel at latter course earlier this month and he may well turn the tables here.

Form: 20-2112

(11)

Vertiginous⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: S M Levey| T: B J Meehan| OR: 101| D

22/1

Landed 5f listed race at Ayr before good seventh in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar. Last of 10 in Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock (6f) on her return and faces a stiff task back at 5f against her elders.

Form: 24217-0

Forecasts

Raasel (3/1), Mitbaahy (5/1), Lazuli (11/2), Ponntos (6/1), Acklam Express (13/2), Khaadem (8/1), Equilateral (14/1), Clarendon House (16/1), Caturra (22/1), Vertiginous (22/1), Existent (33/1)

MITBAAHY progressed further despite enduring a rough passage towards the rail when finishing a neck behind Raasel in the Sprint Stakes at Sandown earlier this month. Granted better luck in-running today, Roger Varian's colt is fancied to turn the tables with that rival and gain a breakthrough success at Pattern level in the process. Charlie Hills is no stranger to success in this contest (Battaash won 4 of last 5) and his Khaadem and Equilateral should be on the premises, too.