Reel appeal in QIPCO King George
Seven high-quality horses line up in today's feature race, the QIPCO-sponsored Gr.1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (16.30) at Ascot.
Qatar Racing is not represented, although Suzi's Connoisseur gives the team a fine chance of victory in the day's feature handicap.
The absence of last year's winner, Postponed, who was withdrawn earlier this week, opens up today's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which is worth £1,150,000. One obvious candidate is The Queen's Dartmouth, who won Royal Ascot's Hardwicke Stakes last time out when he narrowly beat the Aidan O'Brien-trained Highland Reel (pictured below, Highland Reel on left). The last-named horse reopposes today, and given that his jockey lost his whip at a crucial stage when the pair last met he could well gain revenge today.
A Grade One winner in Hong Kong and the USA, and runner-up in last year's Gr.1 Prix du Jockey-Club, Highland Reel has the assistance of Ryan Moore in the saddle today, but both he and Dartmouth have winning form on today's 'good to firm' ground and it is likely to be close between them again.
Other fancied runners include the French raider Erupt and the only three-year-old in the race, Wings Of Desire, and while Sir Isaac Newton has to improve to feature, he has won his two latest starts and cost 3,600,000gns as a yearling. He is a half-brother to Derby winner Australia and a full brother to Qatar Racing's outstanding mare Secret Gesture.
Suzi's Connoisseur is Qatar Racing's sole runner on today's Ascot card trained by Stuart Williams, he will be ridden by Oisin Murphy in the Gigaset International Heritage Handicap (15.55).
Williams says: ‚"I'm very happy with the condition he is in hopefully there's a bit of pace around him and we have fingers crossed for a good run.‚"
Suzi's Connoisseur was beaten just three-quarters of a length in the Silver Bunbury Cup at Newmarket on his latest start, and he was also second over today's course and distance in a QIPCO-sponsored handicap last September.
Adalene, who was due to run at Chester today, has been withdrawn by trainer David Simcock, but Sabrewing, who won on debut at Catterick in May, lines up at Newmarket (15.10) for Robert Cowell's stable.
Photograph: Dan Abraham