Never mind the weather, the heat will be really turned on at Ascot this Saturday in a mouth-watering clash for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes.
Is Enable simply unbeatable?
There are 11 entries at the final declaration stage for this high-summer showdown. John Gosden’s Enable is bidding for her 11th successive victory and won the race in 2017. The mare is a hot favourite to regain her crown following her impressive reappearance in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown three weeks ago.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Crystal Ocean is her biggest threat according to bookmakers and the form book. The son of Sea The Stars was just beaten by stablemate Poet’s Word in last year’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes and has won all three starts this campaign, including the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. His trainer is bidding for a record seventh victory in this prestigious and valuable Group 1 race but, unsurprisingly, Frankie Dettori has chosen Enable.
Aidan O’Brien has four victories in the race to his name and usually has multiple entries in race like this in an attempt to cover all angles. This year, the master of Ballydoyle has four runners. Investec Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck leads the raiding party having probably been given too much to do when beaten in the Irish Derby. Hunting Horn, Magic Wand and Norway make up the quartet but none of the latter trio have managed to win a race in 2019.
Roger Varian runs much-improved Coronation Cup and Hardwicke Stakes winner Defoe while Yasuo Tomomichi sends Cheval Grand over from Japan. Andre Fabre sadles French raider Waldgeist but Morando and Salouen will be long-priced outsiders.
King George VI Stakes History and Trends
First run in 1951, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes is one of the premier middle-distances races in Europe. The 1m4f contest regularly attracts the best horses from Europe and further afield. It is the second richest race on the British racing calendar, with a total prize fund of £1,250,000.
As it is open to three-year-olds and upwards, the King George is a good guide to how the Classic generation is shaping against the best older horses.
The first running was called the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Festival of Britain Stakes because of the 1951 Festival of Britain, held to mark the 100th anniversary of the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in south London.
Recent Winners
2018 – Poet’s Word (7/4)
2017 – Enable (5/4 fav)
2016 – Highland Reel (13/8 fav)
2015 – Postponed (6/1)
2014 – Taghrooda (7/2)
2013 – Novellist (13/2)
2012 – Danedream (9/1)
2011 – Nathaniel (11/2)
2010 – Harbinger (4/1)
2009 – Conduit (13/8 fav)
2008 – Duke of Marmalade (4/6 fav)
2007 – Dylan Thomas (5/4 fav)
2006 – Hurricane Run (5/6 fav)
2005 – Azamour (5/2 fav)
2004 – Doyen (11/10 fav)
2003 – Alamshar (13/2)
2002 – Golan (11/2)
Trends
- All recent winners had won at Group 1 or Group 2 level previously.
- Only one of the last 17 winners had been aged older than four.
- Only one of the last 17 winners had run more than twice in the current season.
- Most recent winners had won over 1m4f previously.
Conclusion
This year’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes looks a race to watch and savour rather than bet on.
Her age and the fact that she ran only three weeks ago are a couple of minor negatives regarding ENABLE but bookmakers are united in offering only a best 8/13 against John Gosden’s superstar. However, new customers to Betway can have 40/1 on race singles to small stakes.
Crystal Ocean has done nothing wrong this year but owed his latest victory to Frankie’s opportunism and a best 3/1 offers little value.
There is a big question mark over this year’s crop of three-year-olds so Anthony Van Dyck (a best 8/1) will need a career-best while Defoe (a general 14/1) has had plenty of luck the last twice.
King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes Current Best Odds
Enable 8/13, Crystal Ocean 3/1, Anthony Van Dyck 8/1, Defoe 14/1, Waldgeist 20/1, Cheval Grand 33/1, Magic Wand, Morando and Salouen 66/1, Hunting Horn and Norway 100/1
(Odds correct at 3.15pm July 25)
