King George at Ascot

the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group One, 12 furlongs) this afternoon at 17.25 CET at Ascot is not only today´s top event, but also the best British race of the summer, roughly equivalent to the "Arc" in France. However it must be said that the race has lost some of its lustre in recent years, with many of the stars now being kept for an autumn campaign, and 3yo runners have been very rare this century. At least there are 3 runners from the classic crop today, but the cream - Sea the Stars and Fame and Glory- is missing. Still a cracking race is in prospect, and as so often it could boil down to a match between the most powerful stables in England and Ireland, i.e. Sir Michael Stoute vs Aidan O´Brien. Both of them field 3 candidates today, and while O´Brien has the best recent record here, Stoute appears to hold the whip hand this time. His stable jockey Ryan Moore had to ponder a long time before finally deciding to partner Conduit; that is also the logical choice, as he is the bookmakers´ favourite as well as the highest-rated horse in the race. However he has little in hand of stable-companion Tartan Bearer, for whom Mick Kinane, bidding for his 6th success in the race, has been booked. Both have been running this season over 10 furlongs, but this trip suits them both much better. Stoute´s third runner Ask has the assistance of Olivier Peslier in the saddle, but probably needs more cut in the ground. On Coronation Cup running he has little in hand of the filly Look Here (Ralph Beckett/ Seb Sanders), and last year´s Oaks winner should find conditions to her liking after not handling the soft ground in Ireland last time. Of Brien´s trio, Rockhampton is clearly the pacemaker and the question - as always with this stable- is how strong a pace he will set. Stable jockey Johnny Murtagh partners Golden Storm, runner-up in the Irish Derby, while Seamus Heffernan rides German-bred Frozen Fire, a lucky winner of that race last year. B est outsider is Alwaary (John Gosden/ Richard Hills), very unlucky last time at Newmarket, but Conduit sems the most likely winner; at the likely odds we also like Look Here each way.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Golden Desert - Secret Night - Pravda Street
2. Race: Party Doctor - Lamh Albasser - Nideeb
3. Race: Jira - Jeanie Johnston - Lady Of The Desert
4. Race: Desert Creek - Loch Linnhe - Sri Putra
5. Race: Captain Brilliance - Roaring Forte - Secret Society
6. Race: Conduit - Tartan Bearer - Golden Sword
7. Race: Solar Graphite - Stanstill - Senses