15:40 Ascot

Saturday 27 July 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:25

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 2m 27.43s

(2)

Auguste Rodin³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 123| BF| C| D

7/4

Has flopped on a few occasions, including in this race last year, but he's very good on his day, winning Derby at Epsom, Irish Derby, Irish Champion and Breeders' Cup Turf at 3. Back to his best when winning Prince of Wales's at the Royal meeting here last month and he's the one to beat again.

Form: 011-021

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(8)

Dubai Honour^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 118| D

25/1

Landed a pair of Group 1 wins in Australia last spring and landed his first success at the highest level in Europe when proving 1¾ lengths too strong for Feed The Flame in last month's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (1½m, good). Suspicion he'll find at least the odd one too strong here.

Form: 46-1731

(6)

Goliath³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: C Soumillon| T: F Graffard| OR: 112| D

25/1

Made all in a 1½m Group 3 in May. Better form in defeat at Group 2 level since (3¾ lengths second in the Hardwicke over C&D latterly) but he'll need improvement to play a prominent role in Group 1 company.

Form: 14-2142

(5)

Hans Andersen²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S M Levey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 102| D

150/1

Very useful in his own right but presumably in here to ensure a good pace for his stablemates.

Form: 0-15695

(1)

Luxembourg⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 120| D

11/1

High-class horse who notched the fourth Group 1 success of his career in the Coronation Cup at Epsom (1½m, soft) at the end of May. Capable of bettering last year's fourth in this but Moore sides with Auguste Rodin.

Form: 422-401

(4)

Middle Earth³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 114| C| D

12/1

Improved again to win Newbury Group 3 (1½m, good to firm) on reappearance in May. Found a steady pace against him when 4½ lengths third (Goliath second) over C&D at the Royal meeting. Has a bit to find on form but the likely stronger pace this time should play to his strengths.

Form: 1171-13

(3)

Rebel's Romance⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 123| D

5/2

Former Breeders' Cup Turf winner who has shown himself better than ever when adding to his Group 1 haul overseas this spring, taking the Sheema Classic at Meydan in March and Champions Cup at Sha Tin in May. This is his first attempt at the highest level in Britain.

Form: U41-111

(9)

Bluestocking^p²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 116

9/2

Really smart at 3 and has taken it up another notch this year, winning Group 2 Middleton Stakes at York (1¼m, good) and Group 1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh (1¼m, good to soft) in recent months. The cheekpieces she wore at York return. Should prove just as effective back at 1½m. Bold show likely.

Form: 2422-11

(7)

Sunway^t²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: James Doyle| T: D Menuisier| OR: 115

16/1

Winner of Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on final 2-y-o start. Best effort this season when stepped up to 1½m for the first time in the Irish Derby, finishing ¾-length second of 8 to Los Angeles. An even bigger performance will be needed to see off his older rivals here, though.

Form: 21-5272

Forecasts

Auguste Rodin (7/4), Rebel's Romance (5/2), Bluestocking (9/2), Luxembourg (11/1), Middle Earth (12/1), Sunway (16/1), Goliath (25/1), Dubai Honour (25/1), Hans Andersen (150/1)

AUGUSTE RODIN fluffed his lines badly in this 12 months ago and his tendency to throw in the odd stinker never makes him one for maximum faith but 6 Group 1 wins show he's high-class when in the mood and he's the one to beat. Bluestocking is an improved filly this year and can give Aidan O'Brien's charge most to do. One who could figure at bigger odds is Middle Earth, who found a steady gallop against him in the Hardwicke and should get a stronger pace to aim at here.