By Tom Frary
There can be few six-time Group 1 winners that have as weird a profile as Ballydoyle's enigmatic Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), but as Ascot's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes approaches of course all eyes are on him once again. It was in this summer jewel 12 months ago that one of the best Derby winners of recent times was seen floundering even before the home turn before disappearing from view, a scene that would normally represent a fall from grace.
But where we are talking about this particular colt, normal goes out of the window. That 2023 King George disaster is one of a trio of flops on the biggest stage and perhaps the most forgivable on rain-softened ground, but the latest in Meydan's Dubai Sheema Classic is less so. Balanced against his Irish Champion, Breeders' Cup Turf and Prince of Wales's Stakes triumphs, his desert no-show is not as concerning as it seemed at the time and he is now firmly in the zone ahead of his second major summer target.
Aidan O'Brien spoke at the Royal meeting of Ryan Moore believing that “engaging” Auguste Rodin is essential and connections are now convinced that their dynamo is as tactics-dependant as he is ground-dependant. The dry lead-up to the race has taken care of the latter situation, while the presence of Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) can only aid his cause. Moore has no problem with passing up the ride on the stable's genuine top-level performer Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), which is testament to the elite status that Auguste Rodin enjoys.
“I am looking forward to riding him. This is a horse who has won six Group 1s already and he is simply a top-class colt who anyone would clearly love to own, train or ride,” he said. “He was back to near his brilliant best when winning the Prince of Wales's Stakes for me last time, the step back up to a mile and a half won't be an issue, and the expected quick ground is a bonus. It is a race with Group 1 depth, but my colt is the one to beat.”
Rebel Without a Course…
There are certain multiple Group 1 winners who fail to earn the full love and respect of their own nation's public due to their most notable exploits coming overseas and Godolphin's Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of them. Ironically, the usually-reliable stalwart was also ineffective in last year's Sheema Classic much as Saturday's great rival was in March, but it was the latest renewal of that contest which saw him gain redemption under new enterprising tactics. Unbeaten in the UK and three-from-three this term, he enters the fray at Ascot strangely as a relative unknown to some who will visit the track for the showcase event despite being a hardened 6-year-old.
“He's an international superstar, but he just hasn't had the opportunity he deserves until now to run in a Group 1 over here,” jockey William Buick said. “Bar the Derby, the King George is our biggest middle-distance race. He's a huge imposing horse who you can't help but spot and he's very uncomplicated, very genuine and obviously very good. He's high-class and it's lovely that he's now getting a proper shot at a top-level win at home.”
Juddmonte's Influence Continues…
Juddmonte's ability to consistently unearth top-level performers is remarkable and the rise of the operation's contender Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) from fledgling Group 1 performer to genuine King George contender in the space of 12 months only serves to underline the ongoing potency of the operation's bloodstock. Few would have predicted that the filly that was caught close home in the G1 Irish Oaks would a year on be entering this race a leading candidate, but here she is and she is deserving of full respect given the nature of her G2 Middleton Stakes and G1 Pretty Polly Stakes wins.
“It's the King George and they are the best of the best,” European racing manager Barry Mahon said. “Auguste Rodin and Rebel's Romance are both top class and Luxemburg is a Group 1 winner on his last start, there is no shortage in quality from top to bottom. It's going to be a top renewal and it's nice to have a filly good enough to partake in it.”
“She's definitely matured a lot and last year, in fairness, she was probably a little weak. She was gallant in her efforts, but probably just had a bit of weakness, which wasn't able to carry her through the line. This year, she has strengthened and Ralph [Beckett] has been very happy with her, she worked very well last Saturday and I think we're in a good place, so hopefully we see that on Saturday.”
Lone 3-Year-old Leads the Way…
It is always disappointing when the King George fails to attract the premier members of the Classic generation, but at least this renewal has representation unlike some in recent times. On the face of it, Guy Pariente Holding and Qatar Racing's Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) has uninspiring form figures taking on his elders, but the G1 Irish Derby runner-up has weight-for-age in his favour and trainer David Menuisier is keen to have a tilt at the stars with a colt he has always rated highly.
“It seems to be the trend these days that less and less 3-year-olds run in the race, but you have to try them against older horses some time and they get an 11-pound allowance,” he said. “Sunway was possibly caught in traffic a bit at a crucial stage in Ireland, but we came back from there really chuffed because he'd vindicated what we thought of him, not thinking we were unlucky in the way Tamfana was in the 1,000 Guineas.”
“It took him a while to come to himself this season and I'm not sure why, but the faster ground in Ireland worked in his favour, as I think he thrives on quick conditions and in fast-run races, even though he won on testing ground last year. Having taken so long to come to himself, I didn't want to stop and he came out of Ireland absolutely buzzing–kicking and bucking as if it hadn't taken too much out of him. All the lights are green.”
More Than Just a Passenger…
Europe's second most important race on Saturday is the G2 York Stakes, where Sir Michael Stoute's latest older-horse project Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) re-emerges from a setback to tackle the G1 Juddmonte International course and distance. Impressive in the G2 Huxley Stakes at Chester in May, he had to sidestep the Prince of Wales's Stakes but is ready to make his presence felt once again among the best of the middle-distance runners tackling last year's winner Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and the promising 3-year-old King's Gambit (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).
“He had a cough just at the wrong moment in his preparation for Ascot–now he is back at 100%,” the Niarchos Family's racing manager Alan Cooper explained. “Michael and his team are happy with the horse. It's a first step back. He looks a typical Sir Michael older horse improver. They've had a little hold-up, but he could be very good. Hopefully, he will reward everybody's hopes for him on Saturday and then, all being well, we'll be back at York for the Juddmonte.”
Alflaila's trainer Owen Burrows is aware of the challenge facing the Shadwell homebred, who is entitled to progress from his return fourth behind Auguste Rodin in the Prince of Wales's. “King's Gambit, I respect massively,” he said. “If anything, it's probably a stronger race than last year but I'd like to think we're a better horse than we were last year.”
All Hail the Chancellor…
As far as visual impressions go, there are few 2-year-olds who have dazzled as Cheveley Park Stud's Chancellor (GB) (Kingman {GB}) did on his debut at Doncaster and the Gosdens' TDN Rising Star bids to add substance to style in Saturday's Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot. The son of the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}) was winning over six furlongs there, but everything about his pedigree suggests this seventh will bring out even more in him which is a scary prospect for all others.
“He was pretty impressive as we saw at Doncaster and we were thrilled that he transmitted a bit of what we saw on the gallops to the racecourse,” the operation's managing director Chris Richardson said. “Everyone seems happy and this looks like a good next opportunity for him and it is exciting to have a colt with a bit of potential I think.”
“It's funny, we normally have fillies, but it just so happened that last year when we took him to the sales people weren't receptive to him for various reasons,” he added. “We took a view that we would give him a chance and he's a nice individual out of a proper mare who was hugely talented, let's hope he's exciting.”
Among his peers is Qatar Racing's New Century (GB) (Kameko), an important colt for the owners and for trainer Andrew Balding who combined with the sire. He had the subsequent TDN Rising Star Field Of Gold (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) back in third in his Doncaster novice last month and racing manager David Redvers rates him highly. “Andrew and Oisin [Murphy] are incredibly sweet on the horse,” he explained. “He's got a similar career mapped out to his father and we're taking a swing at the Pat Eddery because otherwise he's got five weeks until the Solario and he's bouncing out of his skin, according to Andrew. He does take on some promising looking horses–I was rather alarmed how easily Chancellor won for the Gosden team at Doncaster. But it's a Listed race for two-year-olds at this time of year and it's hard to find an easy one over seven furlongs.”
Simmering Nicely…
Denied late in Royal Ascot's G3 Albany Stakes, Al Shaqab Racing's acquisition Simmering (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) is back over the course and distance to bid for compensation in Saturday's G3 Princess Margaret Stakes. Third on debut at York behind the high-class Arabie (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}), she sets the standard and trainer Ollie Sangster is keen to get a pattern race on board while conditions favour her. “The form from Ascot has worked out well at Newmarket and the Karl Burke horse who beat her on debut is now a Group 2 winner in France,” he said. “We're very excited to have Sheikh Joaan and the Al Shaqab team in the yard and look forward to training for them.”
Despite the obvious merit of the Albany form, the fact remains that over a month has passed since that contest and that can be a long time in juvenile racing. Three potential class acts to have emerged in the interim are Isa Salman Al Khalifa's Definitive (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), The King & The Queen's Handcuffed (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum's Mandurah (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and they are all here to be tested.
Definitive's trainer Clive Cox said of his contender, who showed a willing attitude at Haydock, “It's a big step and she will come forward hugely for that first run. We liked her going into that race and she did everything really nicely.”
Mandurah made a significant impact on her racecourse bow at Newmarket and Ed Crisford is hopeful. “She won her maiden well at Newmarket, we've always liked the filly and at home she looks like she's improved enough to take her chance in a stakes race. It's a competitive race and there's some very good fillies in there, but if she improves, hopefully she'll be in the mix. You've got to see where you stand really.”
Soul Revival?
Ascot also boasts the G3 Longines Valiant Stakes, where a talented trio of 3-year-olds include George Strawbridge's Friendly Soul (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who reverts to a mile having proven such a disappointment in the G3 Musidora Stakes. Given time to get it back together since then, the homebred who was so exciting when beating Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) as they drew clear in Newmarket's Listed Pretty Polly Stakes in May remains one of the more exciting members of her sex and age from this trip to a mile and a quarter. She encounters Godolphin's unbeaten Devoted Queen (GB) (Kingman {GB}), daughter of the talented Fintry (Ire) (Shamardal) who reappears for the first time since beating Friendly Soul's classy stablemate Spiritual (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in York's Listed Michael Seely Memorial Stakes in May.
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