A peak audience of 1.4 million viewers tuned in for the premiere of ITV’s docuseries “Champions: Full Gallop” on Friday night. While it may be excessive to claim that it contributed significantly to the 18% increase in attendance at Market Rasen’s Summer Plate meeting the next day, the “Full Gallop effect” is likely to enhance the reputation of the winter racing scene for a while.
However, this should be (at least theoretically) the quintessential British summertime, and there seems to be less excitement leading up to one of the Flat’s key events, the King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. Any remaining hopes that Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy, a remarkable winner of the Derby and Eclipse, would participate in this year’s race were finally extinguished when he did not show up in the 11 five-day declarations on Monday.
Although his stable mate Auguste Rodin, last year’s Derby champion, serves as a suitable alternative for Saturday’s race, Los Angeles – who won the Irish Derby after placing third behind City Of Troy at Epsom – remains another significant absence.
The King George was designed as a midsummer showdown between generations. Since its inaugural race in 1951, it has seen victories from numerous legendary middle-distance runners, including Ribot, Mill Reef, Nijinsky, Shergar, Nashwan, Dancing Brave, and Galileo.
Ribot, who won in 1956, was the first King George victor to triumph in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe later that year, a feat also achieved in the same season by Ballymoss (1958), Mill Reef (1971), Dancing Brave (1986), Lammtarra (1995), Dylan Thomas (2007), and Enable (2019).
However, an all-age championship necessitates a full range of ages in the field; while Sunway – the sole three-year-old competing this year – placed second to Los Angeles in the Irish Derby, his overall three-year-old record reflects no wins from four attempts.
Ascot’s loss could be York’s gain if City Of Troy competes in the Juddmonte International as scheduled, and it’s true that while Aidan O’Brien’s exceptional colt might have inflated attendance figures on Saturday, his absence creates a more competitive race for punters to assess.
Additionally, Auguste Rodin lacks strong betting appeal after his disappointing performance in this race last year, and there are five former Group One victors within 4lb of the favorite according to Timeform’s ratings. British fans will also welcome the opportunity to see Charlie Appleby’s globe-trotting star Rebel’s Romance, who has secured five Group One victories across Germany (twice), the US, Dubai, and Hong Kong.
While Sunway is a Group One winner as a juvenile and could play a significant role in the race’s outcome on Saturday, just one King George competitor from the Classic era is rather underwhelming, particularly considering a race boasting a £1.25m prize fund. Seven of the ten King George champions in the 1970s were three-year-olds, and they enjoyed a 50% win rate throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Yet, only two emerged victorious between 2000 and 2009, and three from 2010 to 2019.
This trend might be a mere statistical anomaly, but it’s hard to shake off the feeling that, as the global racing calendar evolves, the King George is grappling to maintain its status as Britain’s “most prestigious open-age flat race.”
after newsletter promotion
Quick Guide
Greg Wood’s Thursday tips
Show
Doncaster 2.00 Brindley 2.30 Lightening Mann 3.05 Daring Legend 3.40 Miss Cynthia 4.15 Empire Of Light 4.45 Renesmee 5.20 Lord Abama
Sandown 2.10 Glamorous Breeze 2.40 Pantile Warrior 3.15 Anshoda 3.50 My Dream World 4.20 Silver Gunn (nb) 4.55 Laura Bay
Worcester 2.18 Stumps Or Slips 2.50 My Gift To You 3.25 All Well And Good 4.00 Parikarma 4.35 I’m Ravenous 5.10 Fourtowns 5.45 Blow Your Horn
Yarmouth 5.30 Walter Hartright 6.00 Rebel Path 6.30 Royal Velvet 7.00 Pedro Valentino (nap) 7.30 Thunder Moor 8.00 Flickering Act 8.30 Qitaal
Newbury 6.15 Unplugged 6.45 Glistening 7.15 Silent Flame 7.45 Kitty Foyle 8.15 Beach Point 8.45 Throubi
The race takes place between the Irish Derby and the Eclipse on one side and the International at York on the other. Trainers selecting two options from three for a top-tier middle-distance horse of any age will naturally be tempted by a six or seven-week gap between races, especially considering the subsequent races, including the Arc and the Breeders’ Cup in November.
Every horse requires a break eventually, and the significant financial commitment from the Saudi Arabian government to its February showcase is likely to shorten the winter respite for some of the finest middle-distance competitors. It has been proposed that the interval between Royal Ascot in June and Ireland’s Champions Weekend in early September—or potentially even the Arc in October—could soon be regarded as the best timing for a rest.
Quick Guide
Greg Wood’s Friday tips
Show
Uttoxeter 1.40 Virtual Rock 2.10 Deploy To Spy 2.45 Kazontherazz 3.20 Earth Cry 3.55 Ambassador 4.30 Mighty Fleur 5.05 Mordred
Meechlands Magic
Ascot 1.50 Pearl Of Windsor 2.25 Tactician (nb) 3.00 Red Maids 3.35 Chasing Aphrodite 4.10 Baltic 4.45 Sarah’s Verse (nap)
Thirsk 2.00 Blessed Star 2.35 Griselda 3.10 Hill Street Blues 3.45 Bestie 4.20 South Parade 4.55 Brian The Snail
York 5.30 Tanmawwy 6.05 Gifted Angel 6.40 Praetorian 7.15 Runninwild 7.50 Karmology 8.20 Lettuce Leaf
Chepstow 5.40 Believe You Me 6.15 Diomed Duke 6.50 Mokaatil 7.20 Magical Merlin 7.55 Hawajes 8.25 Monkey Miss 8.55 Bobacious
Sandown 5.55 Carp Kid 6.30 Brightwalton 7.05 Mr Freedom 7.35 Whathappensinvegas 8.10 Plantadream 8.45 King Of Charm
Ascot will certainly be attuned to all these factors and boasts some of the sharpest minds in the industry working tirelessly to uphold its reputation as Britain’s leading Flat track, complemented by a racing schedule that aligns. However, if the King George ultimately proves to be ill-timed within an increasingly international and year-round sport, there may be limits to what can be achieved.
