Britain's biggest WFA race is run on Saturday.
The absence of Derby winners North Light and Grey Swallow as well
as Gold Cup hero Papineau depletes the field. Godolphin have a strong
hand with hot favourite Doyen as well as Sulamani, beaten in both
starts this year.
BANDARI: Former Derby hopeful has been revitalized this year. He
is coming off a narrow win in the Princess of Wales Stakes at Newmarket.
He defeated Sulamani by half length, getting five pounds on that
occasion. He meets Sulamani on levels this time and there should
be little between the two again. Unplaced in the Prince of Wales
Stakes, he previously took out the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over
the slightly disappointing Iktyar. The son of Alhaarth is trained
by Mark Johnston and will be ridden by Richard Hills.
DOYEN: The hot favourite for the race. He comes off a six length
win in the Hardwicke Stakes over High Accolade, where he broke the
course record. Previously second in the Coronation Cup to Warrsan,
beating Vallee Enchantee. He was less than two lengths off Warrsan
at Epsom. Bids to give Godolphin their fifth win in the race. He
is lightly raced and has won four of eight starts to date. He was
fourth to Dalakhani, Mubtaker and High Chaparral in last year's
Arc. A brother to Oaks winner Moonshell, Frankie Dettori rides.
GAMUT: An uncertain runner at this stage due to concerns over the
ground. Won his last two starts including an impressive three length
romp in the group one Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud over Policy Maker,
who ran four lengths off Doyen last year. On that form there should
be little to choose between the two. Gamut, who has attracted support
during the week, also won the Jockey Club Stakes over the smart
Systematic. A solid four year old, who ran second in the Irish St
Leger, he is trained by Sir Michael Stoute. Bred on similar lines
to Stoute's last King George winner Golan, by Spectrum from Golan's
family. He has won five of 12 starts. Kieran Fallon will ride.
HARD BUCK: The American raider, he is trained by Ken McPeek. He
is coming off an unplaced run in the United Nations Handicap. Previously
he ran second in the Sheema Classic to Polish Summer, the latter
having not won since. A grade one winner both in Brazil and the
US, he has been working well and the King George will be his first
British start. Has won nine of 15 starts and will be ridden by Gary
Stevens. A son of Kentucky Derby winner Spend A Buck, he is from
the family of champions Youth and Mississipian.
HIGH ACCOLADE: A well beaten second in the Hardwicke Stakes behind
Doyen. He was third to Bandari at his latest start. A top class
three year old when winning the King Edward VII Stakes and running
second in the St Leger. Has yet to win as a four year old but ran
creditably in all three starts. He ran fourth to Warrsan in the
Coronation Cup. A son of Mark of Esteem, Marcus Tregonnig trains
and regular rider Martin Dwyer rides.
LUNAR SOVEREIGN: A former winner of the Man O' War Stakes he has
not recaptured his best form of late. Seemingly Godolphin's pacemaker
for his better fancied stable companions. Ted Durcan rides.
PHOENIX REACH: Last year's winner of the Canadian International.
Unplaced in two subsequent starts, he did however suffer leg problems
and is said to be coming back to his best for Andrew Balding. He
was not disgraced in his first two runs back, when five lengths
off Rakti in the Prince of Wales and sixth to Gamut in France. Another
son of Alhaarth, he was a smart three year old who also won the
Gordon Stakes before running third in the St Leger. He has won three
of seven starts.
POWERSCOURT: An unlikely starter. A decent two and three year old,
he has matured into being just off the very best in Europe. A brilliant
win in the Tattersalls Gold Cup was followed by a solid second place
to the brilliant Rakti at Ascot. He was fifth in the Eclipse Stakes
at his last start and does have ground to find with Warrsan. A son
of Sadler's Wells, he is trained by Aiden O'Brien. He has won four
times, including the Great Voltigeur. He ran just a short head behind
Gamut in last year's Irish St Leger, although the latter does seem
to have improved.
SULAMANI: One of Godolphin's few disappointments this year. Fourth
to Rakti at Ascot, he was then beaten as a warm favourite in the
Princess of Wales Stakes. He does not seem to have recaptured the
form which saw him win four Group/ Grade One races as a three and
four year old. His form has deteriorated since his sparkling Turf
Classic last year. He is an uncertain runner due to the ground.
WARRSAN: The first horse to win back to back Coronation Cups, since
Triptych in the late 1980's. He is coming off a short head second
in the Eclipse Stakes and looks likely to be hard to beat. The oldest
horse in the field at six, he ran sixth in this race last year.
He ran third to Gamut in the Jockey Club Stakes three runs back
when giving that rival five pounds. He pays a great compliment to
the training skills of Clive Brittain who transformed him from a
handicapper to a multiple group one winner. A son of Caerleon, he
hails from Kris Kin's family. Daryll Hollard, who won the Coronation
Cup on him, rides.
VALLEE ENCHANTEE: An unlucky third in the Coronation Cup, when given
a less than great ride. The only filly in the race, she proved her
class last season when winning the Hong Kong Vase over Warrsan.
Prior she was fourth in the Prix Ganay on her seasonal debut to
Execute. One of the best fillies around, she bids to become the
first French trained horse to win the race since Pawneese. A daughter
of Peintre Celebre, she is out of the high class Verveine.
TYCOON: One of the dark horses in the race. He is the only three
year old in the race. Made his seasonal debut in the Irish Derby,
where he ran third to Grey Swallow and Epsom Derby hero, North Light
where he was beaten just two lengths. This marked an improvement
in prior form. He has only won a maiden in five starts but his Derby
form suggests he has the potential to run well in a race like this
but it is a stiff jump in class.
SELECTIONS
1. Doyen
2.Warrsan
3. Vallee Enchantee