G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S.

Coolmore and Westerberg's dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) heads a field of nine for Saturday's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. after final declarations were confirmed for Ascot's midsummer showpiece on Thursday morning. Aidan O'Brien trimmed his team from five to three for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf "Win and You're In", sidelining Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), and will also saddle Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Auguste Rodin, who has hit...

Francis-Henri Graffard may have had to contend with the disappointment of retiring his Classic-winning filly Rouhiya (Fr), but he still has much to look forward to in the coming weeks, not least another trip to Ascot with Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) for Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Owned by his breeder Baron Philip von Ullmann of Gestut Schlenderhan, the four-year-old was last seen running second to Isle Of Jura (Ire) in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes. Following his win in the G3 Prix d'Hedouville in early May,...

Shadwell's G2 Darley S. winner Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will make his long-awaited return from injury in the G2 Sky Bet York S. at York on July 24, trainer Owen Burrows revealed. The 4-year-old was sidelined late last year while training for a start in Bahrain in November. "He has had his rehab back at Shadwell and touch wood it has all gone well," Burrows said. "We have had plenty of time to prepare him and there was the listed race at Newbury on Saturday or this race, and...

The heat was on in Saturday's G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. at Ascot, a "Win And You're In" for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November, and there was no hiding place as Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) proved ruthless to prevail for the William Muir and Chris Grassick stable and jockey P J McDonald. Sent off at 18-1 with a below-par second in the June 3 G1 Coronation Cup last time tempering enthusiasm, last year's winner of that Epsom prize was always...

It seems strange to say that Saturday's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S., a "Win And You're In" for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, has attracted the best available of the 3-year-olds of either sex without hosting a winner of either Epsom Classic. In Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Ascot's jewel has the two that really count. Both suffered ill fortune of varying degrees in the Derby and Oaks, with the filly in particular a victim of savage circumstance...

All six contenders stood their ground for Saturday's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. at Ascot as final declarations were confirmed Thursday morning. Juddmonte's G1 Irish Derby hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB} and G1 Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), set to make her first start in the Watership Down silks, will take on their elders with the advantage of a sizeable weight allowance afforded the Classic generation in the £1.25 million 12-furlong test. They have drawn gates six and three, respectively. Prince Faisal's...

Last month's G1 Irish Derby hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is pleasing trainer Ralph Beckett in advance of his next start in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. on Saturday. The field for the Ascot prize is high on quality, with the G1 Oaks second Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), also signed on for the 3-year-old brigade. The 2021 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), as well as fellow Group 1 winners Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Pyledriver (GB)...

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) is among the six five-day confirmations for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. at Ascot on Saturday, along with Irish Derby hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The 5-year-old German raider was given the green light after a gallop on Monday morning at Mulheim, where he is trained by Marcel Weiss for owner Gestut Auenquelle. He bids to emulate compatriots Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) and Novellist (Ger)...

Aidan O'Brien cut his team for the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. to two on Thursday, with last year's G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks and June 16 G1 Prince of Wales's S. heroine Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) joined only by the July 4 G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Wayne Lordan takes the ride on the latter, who currently trades as the outsider of the six-strong field to underline the quality of Saturday's renewal. It will be likely stripped of...