King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1)
July 26, 2024
Cracking contest for the mid-summer highlight.
Auguste Rodin leaving the ring for the Irish Champion Stakes
Auguste Rodin is a short favourite after a good win in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out. He improved no end from his seasonal pipe opener at the Curragh when second to White Birch in the Tattersall’s Gold Cup. A Group 1 winner at two, three, and four it’s right he tops the market at short odds of 5/4.
Against him are eight others including one representing the classic generation, Sunway from the David Menuisier yard. He was a Group 1 winner as a juvenile last year on soft in the Criterium International and put in a great run last time out at the Curragh getting up for second in the Irish Derby.
The only filly in the race is four-year-old Bluestocking representing Ralph Beckett. She was a winner at the Curragh in the Pretty Poly last time when she put in a fine run to collar Emily Upjohn over 1m2f. She’ll get weight for age off the colts.
Of the colts, Willie Haggas runs six-year-old Dubai Honour who won his third Group 1 when taking the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last time out. Charlie Appleby brings fellow six-year-old, his globetrotter Rebels Romance who took the Champions & Chater Cup in Hong Kong in May having also taken the Sheema Classic at Meydan in March where Auguste Rodin trailed in last.
The Hardwicke Stakes second and third are here, both four-year-olds. France’s Goliath from the Francis Henri Graffard yard ran second with the Gosden’s Middle Earth coming third. Both will need to step up.
Aidan sends another pair. Hans Anderson who’ll set the pace and Luxemburg who came very close to beating Auguste Rodin at Leopardstown in the Irish Champion Stakes last year. Whilst also well beaten in this last year he’s shown he retains his considerable ability this year by winning the Coronation Cup at Epsom.
Ballydoyle will be hoping they’ve figured out Auguste Rodin. The flops they think are when he’s asked for too much to do. Close to the pace is where he needs to be to keep him interested. The theory will be put to the test on Saturday where they hope to erase the memory of last year’s abysmal failure. Below is his final piece of work where he looks in rude health. Rebels Romance and Luxembourg can follow him home.
Recommendation
Auguste Rodin 5/4 win
Rebels Romance and Luxemburg (trifecta)
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