G1 King George and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien indicated MG1SWs Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) would return in Leopardstown's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. on Sept. 9. The stablemates were last seen in the G1 King George and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot on July 29, where Luxembourg was a hard-fought fourth while the dual Derby winner came home a distant 10th. Their conditioner could find no obvious reason for the poor showing but remained hopeful the son of the late Deep Impact could bounce back at Leopardstown....

Last year's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is poised to head directly to France where he'll get a second chance at the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 12 months after running sixth in last year's renewal over unsuitably testing ground. The Ralph Beckett-trainee is currently enjoying a break at his trainer's Kimpton Down base and the connections are keen to follow last year's route to the Bois de Boulogne--with a trip to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup also in the planner following...

Fifty years ago, Brigadier Gerard (GB) (Queen's Hussar {GB}) won the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., and to commemorate his victory, he was awarded the QIPCO Diamonds & Pearls Award on Wednesday. The Brigadier, as he was known, won an incredible 17 of his 18 starts in the colours of his breeder John Hislop for trainer Major Dick Hern. Among his victories were the 2000 Guineas, St James's Palace S., Sussex S., Goodwood Mile, and Queen Elizabeth II S., as well as the Champion S. (Click here for...

Impressive G1 Cazoo Derby hero Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) has suffered a "little niggle" according to trainer Sir Michael Stoute and could miss an intended start in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. on July 23. The Saeed Suhail-owned colt was due to work on Thursday morning, but that plan has been suspended. "He won't be working tomorrow morning," said Stoute. "We just have a little niggle that we are checking out on his foot. "So, we will have more news on Friday or Saturday. It...

Christopher Wright's Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) has been withdrawn from the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. at Ascot and will be pointed at Goodwood next week. With minimal rain hitting the Berkshire track, the G1 Prix de Royallieu, G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G2 Hardwicke S. heroine was taken out as expected by David Menuisier. "When you train a soft-ground horse you always need a bit of luck with races in the middle of the summer," he explained. "She's the...

Mill Reef (Never Bend), who won the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. 50 years ago, has been honoured with the QIPCO Diamonds & Pearls Award, QIPCO announced on Thursday. Second in the 2000 Guineas, the diminutive Paul Mellon homebred with the big heart would go on to win the Derby and break the course record at Epsom Downs. In the 1971 King George, the Ian Balding trainee drew off to win by six lengths. His regular jockey, Geoff Lewis, stated at the time, "Daylight was second." Retired...