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After a career-defining victory over Camelot in Ireland, Al Kazeem will attempt to reaffirm his dominance over the three-time classic winner in the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The 11-horse field for the Prince of Wales's over 10 furlongs also includes globetrotting G1 winner Red Cadeaux, runner-up to Animal Kingdom in the Dubai World Cup on March 30.
Trained by Roger Charlton for breeder John Deer, Al Kazeem charged past Camelot to win the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on May 26.
His 1.5 lengths triumph was his fifth win from 10 career starts and first at the top level.
AL Kazeem was a 4.5 lengths winner of the G2 Jockey Club Stakes over Quest For Peace and Dunaden at Newmarket last year but sustained an injury in the race and missed the remainder of the season.
The 5YO returned from nearly a year on the sidelines in April and won the G3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown.
The Gold Cup was the second start of the year for Camelot, who won last year's English and Irish Derbys as well as the 2000 Guineas for trainer Aidan O'Brien.
He opened the season with a victory in the G3 Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh but was clearly outpointed by Al Kazeem in the Gold Cup.
O'Brien will also send out Windsor Palace, who set the pace in the Gold Cup, to again ensure genuine pace.
Red Cadeaux will have his first start in England in 11 months and comes into the race following defeats in his most recent starts in Dubai, Japan and SIngapore.
After a late running second in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan, the 7YO gelding finished third in the G1 Tenno Sho at Kyoto in Japan then was eighth in the Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji on May 19.
Prior to the World Cup, Red Cadeaux won the G1 Hong Kong Vase last December at Sha Tin.
Other contenders include recent G1 Prix d'Ispahan victor Maxios, multiple Group winner and Dubai World Cup fourth Side Glance and G1-winning filly The Fugue, who makes her 2013 debut after finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf last November at Santa Anita.