A Sense of Foreboding?

Prior to 10 a.m. Friday, the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.–a Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf–had a straightforward look to it with Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) understandably at prohibitive odds to maintain his perfect tally, but constant rain has blighted the track and threatens to turn the picture on its head. Untried on ground slower than good since his debut last year, Anthony Oppenheimer’s homebred will be forced to race on going at least soft if connections opt to stick to the plan after Ascot was hit by enough rain to alter the description from good-to-firm to soft by the third race on Friday’s card. Trainer John Gosden is concerned that the drastic change in conditions will undermine the superiority of the G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Eclipse S. hero. “I have been asked whether we are going to the well too often. My answer is that I am more worried about the forecast of rain at Ascot on Saturday than any fear that we might be overfacing him,” he explained. “I think he will be all right if it is good-to-soft, but we will be in unknown territory on soft ground.”

If Golden Horn stands his ground, he at least lines up in sparkling form, with his trainer satisfied with his mental and physical progression since his latest appearance in the July 4 Sandown feature. “I think he showed in the Eclipse that he’s grown up and he showed a good deal of maturity,” he added. “He’s a very good horse, but in every sense he’s still a young boy. He’s the equivalent of an 18-year-old kid, to that extent. We’re asking him major questions at a young age. If he gets beaten on Saturday, that’s life. It will be a different ball game, but a clash like this is what the race is all about.”

At the Top of His Game…

John Gosden is in the enviable position of having a potent second string to his bow in Eagle Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), a maturing 4-year-old who has been prepared almost exclusively with this particular race at the heart of his training and racing program. Fourth last year when still a raw sophomore who had shown above-average ability when winning the G2 King Edward VII S. over this track and trip at the Royal

meeting the previous month, Lady Bamford’s homebred has remarkably only had one more run than his heralded stable companion at this stage. Fourth on his comeback in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. over an extended 10-furlong trip at Sandown May 28, the chestnut shaped with promise when second to Snow Sky (GB) (Nayef) after a troubled trip in the G2 Hardwicke S. back over this course and distance last time June 20. Friday’s rain was very much welcome for this immediate relative of Sariska (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), and swings the race’s pendulum towards him. Soon-to-be-retired jockey Richard Hughes is relishing the opportunity and said at the track on Friday, “It’s not October soft and not too bad, but Sariska won on bottomless ground and loved it so it’s bound to help a little bit. I just hope I keep the ride on him, as there could be a few non-runners now. It’s a good race with one of the best Derby winners in the last 10 years and the best around this year.” Gosden added, “The race at Sandown was not run in Eagle Top’s style. He ran a good race, but got tired as expected. It was always the plan to go to the Hardwicke and then come to the King George. We’ve not seen the best of him yet.”

Snow Sky is another proven on testing ground, albeit in a 2-year-old maiden at Salisbury when successful by 11 lengths, and he looks a colt who is coming of age after wins in the May 15 G2 Yorkshire Cup and the Harwicke. On the latter occasion, Khalid Abdullah’s homebred received a masterful front-running ride from Pat Smullen en route to a 3 3/4-length score over Eagle Top and Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), and he is back on board as a result. Currently tied for the record of renewals with Dick Hern and Saeed bin Suroor on five, Sir Michael Stoute is hoping Snow Sky’s recent improvement is down to reaching full maturity and strength. “We were a bit surprised [at Royal Ascot] and I know he had the run of the race, but I think he’s improving and is very effective at a mile and a half,” he said. “He’s a good, solid horse who is hopefully on the up and the great thing about him is you can do anything with him in a race. Initially, the Melbourne Cup was the plan but we’ll see what happens here. He seems in good shape and while we have great respect for the Derby winner, he’s entitled to take his chance.”

The Fairytale Option…

In a King George that has a lot of ingredients for a great story, a win for Peter Niven’s 7-year-old Clever Cookie (GB) (Primo Valentino (Ire) would provide one of the race’s all-time moments. Mud-loving and apparently on an upward trajectory based on his wins in the G3 Ormonde S. over an extended 13-furlong trip at Chester May 8 and York’s Listed Grand Cup over 14 furlongs May 30, the former hurdler remains relatively unexposed with just 16 runs to his name despite his veteran status, and has an admirable strike rate of 10 successes. His trainer’s confidence is building with every inch of rain that falls on the Berkshire circuit. “Everyone tells me it’s been chucking it down, which is great,” he commented. “That’s not to say Clever Cookie is a proper heavy-ground horse, but he might go through it better than some of the others. He has the Goodwood Cup entry next week and they’ll be getting the rain there as well, but I think we have to go for this now.” Those conditions will also bring out the best in last year’s G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. winner Madame Chiang (GB) (Archipenko), who bids to become the third of her sex to win in the last four editions and who shaped with promise on her return when fifth in York’s G2 Middleton S. May 14.