KING GEORGE STAKES
Saturday 29th July, 3:40pm
Auguste Rodin @ 11/4
King Of Steel @ 10/3
Hukum @ 4/1
Emily Upjohn @ 9/2
Pyledriver @ 7/1
Luxembourg @ 12/1
Westover @ 16/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
HORSES
Auguste Rodin looked special at Epsom with half a length between him and King Of Steel. On that evidence alone I think you’d be confident that he could confirm that form, but so much has happened since June 3rd.
It was a hard fought defeat of Adelaide River in the Irish Derby and he didn’t quite show the spark he showed at Epsom. The superstar status he gained at Epsom just got a little bit tempered.
The pendulum has swung a little towards King Of Steel because of his performance in the King Edward Stakes at the Royal Meeting – it decisively confirmed that Epsom was no fluke. There is a feeling that there’s more to come. There’s been a lot of talk about conditions, we know the conditions will suit King Of Steel so that’s definitely a bonus.
Those closest to Hukum are very keen on his chances, not just because of the ground conditions but because of the way he has come back this year seemingly better than ever. It was a very taking win at Sandown after a long absence over a class horse.
This distance is much more his trip than the mile and two at Sandown. He’s been nursed back and is looking superb. If it was an average King George you’d be really keen on him, but it’s an outstanding King George, and he is a massive player.
Emily Upjohn is another intriguing candidate in a fascinating race. This race will suit her better than the small field in the Eclipse in which she was conceding weight to a very good horse in Paddington.
The race to focus on is the Coronation Cup in which she spectacularly defeated Westover. Last year she finished six from six, miles behind Pyledriver, but she looks much more professional this season and you couldn’t begin to think she’ll be anything other than a major player.
Pyledriver was a big price last year at 18-1. I thought Willie Muir made a very good point about him the other day – if this horse was trained by Aiden O’Brien he’d easily be considered one of the horses of the century.
He stormed home last year beating an Arc winner in Torquator Tasso by three and a quarter lengths, That win in the Hardwicke was very taking indeed. He wasn’t fully fit by all accounts. All those around him think now he looks better than ever physically. He is another massive player.
RACE
The race of the season tag can be overused, but in this case it looks as though it’s absolutely spot on.
Sometimes it’s a race to savour, but not really a betting race because of numbers. But this year it’s a decent field size, so plenty of opportunity to put your money where your mouth is!
RIDERS
It’s a different kind of tactical battle in a race like this, when you’ve got a bigger field and pacemakers to contend with. All riders taking part will have been thinking it through, talking to Kevin Stott he said he goes through the race in his mind every ten minutes.
SPOTLIGHT
I’ve got a feeling that Pyledriver is going to run very well and will be much closer or even in front of Hukum from their Coronation Cup last year. The last three Coronation Cups are going to be crucial to the whole race. If the three-year-olds are special, then with the weight available they should win, but if they’re a level below, these older horses have the class to decide the race between them.
LOOK OUT FOR
Three year old winners of the King George have been lesser spotted in in recent years. Godolphin’s 2021 Derby hero Adayar, became the first three year old winner since Nathaniel and the first Derby winner since the great Galileo to follow up Epsom success with a win in the King George.
Longchamp clues? King George winners often make the trip from Ascot to Longchamp, but not necessarily in the same season. In recent years, only three horses have taken in both races: Dylan Thomas (2007), Enable (2017) and Torquator Tasso (2022). Both Enable and Dylan Thomas followed up by winning the Arc, while Torquator Tasso posted creditable second and third placed finishes.
Beware the Ballydoyle battalion! Having earmarked this race as Auguste Rodin’s target all season, Aidan O’Brien has declared not one, not two, not three, but four runners! Auguste Rodin will be joined by Luxembourg, Bolshoi Ballet and Point Lonsdale. Not a bad supporting cast, could we see another Serpentine?
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