One of the summer’s horse racing highlights takes place this weekend with the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
Here are the thoughts of our horse racing expert on the contest and the best bet for the race.
The obvious starting point is Enable who will go off a short priced favourite as she bids to continue her imperious career which has only seen her beaten once. An Oaks, Breeders’ Cup and twice an Arc winner, she is about as good as they come and it’s hard to envisage us seeing a better filly for the foreseeable future.
She deserves her position at the head of the market at 4/6 with Grosvenorsport.com and she’s of course the most likely winner, but for whatever reason, probably wrongly, I think this might be the day that she gets turned over.
I personally think Japan is the best three-year-old around and based on that, his stablemate and Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck must come into the equation.
Defoe to spring a surprise
It’s hard to know what happened in the Irish Derby last time, but if you ignore that run, he’s a serious contender. However, I’m going to pass him up in favour of Coronation Cup and Hardwicke Stakes winner Defoe at 12/1.
The five-year-old had never quite done it at the top level before this season, but having disappointed at Newbury on his seasonal reappearance, he’s looked a different horse this year.
A few thought he ran below par at Newmarket on his next start behind Communique, but that rival has since come out and won another Group 2 so the form looks to have substance.
Subsequently, he has won the Group One Coronation Cup at Epsom, beating St Leger winner Kew Gardens, and then showed an impressive turn of foot (penultimate furlong was quicker than Blue Point in the Diamond Jubilee) to win the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He seems to be getting better and better this season and Roger Varian looks to have finally realised the potential that many of us thought the horse had. He simply is too big at 12/1 and looks a very solid each-way bet at 12/1.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.