3 minute read
Dual Derby hero set to face a maximum of eight rivals in Saturday's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Deep Impact trailed home a bitterly disappointing last of ten when sent off the 9/4 market leader for the Group 1 prize twelve months ago, but the dual Derby hero finds himself in a similar position entering this season's midsummer highlight and will be a red-hot favourite to make amends after his impressive display in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
As expected, Ryan Moore looks set to partner O'Brien's four-year-old once more, with Wayne Lordan booked to ride stablemate Luxembourg, who arrives on the back of an impressive display in the Coronation Cup on derby day at Epsom. Hans Andersen (Sean Levey) completes the O'Brien team, with both Point Lonsdale and Continuous not featuring among declarations.
O'Brien, a four-time winner of the 12-furlong showpiece with Galileo (2001), Dylan Thomas (2007), Duke Of Marmalade (2008) and Highland Reel (2016), said: "We have been very happy with Auguste Rodin and the plan always was to come here after the Prince Of Wales's Stakes.
"In last year's King George, it was soft ground and we probably held him up too much. When Ryan [Moore] felt, he was not going to win, he eased him out of it, and the run probably was not as bad as it looked.
"The plan for Auguste Rodin after Ascot is the Japan Cup, which will be very exciting, and he could have a run somewhere in between.
"Luxembourg won the Coronation Cup over a mile and a half, which we thought would suit him. He is in very good form as well."
The market suggests Auguste Rodin's chief threat will likely come from Charlie Appleby's Rebel's Romance. The six-year-old globetrotting star hasn't been seen racing on home soil since December 2023, but the thirteen-time career winner certainly has the form in the book at the top-level, with overseas victories including the 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf, 2024 Dubai Sheema Classic and 2024 Chartered Champions & Chater Cup ay Sha Tin (Hong Kong).
Ralph Beckett looks set to allow his Pretty Polly Stakes heroine Bluestocking to take her chance in Saturday's feature. The daughter of Camelot is owned by Juddmonte, whose colours were famously denied in this race twelve months ago when Westover came off second best following a gigantic tussle with Hukum.
David Menuisier will be hoping his Irish Derby runner-up Sunway can make the most of his three-year-old allowance by going one spot better, while there is further French interest from the Christophe Soumillon-ridden Goliath, who chased home George Scott's absentee Isle Of Jura in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last-time-out.
Middle Earth finished third behind Goliath at Royal Ascot and makes up the field of nine alongside the William Haggas-trained Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Dubai Honour.
