“The up and coming King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes on Saturday is projecting itself as a traditional competition between Ballydoyle and Godolphin, with competitors Auguste Rodin and Rebel’s Romance. Although these are familiar names associated with epic European showdowns, it is noticeable how seldom these rival factions have direct skirmishes on the racing grounds.
Highlighting this, the historic battle of Galileo and Fantastic Light at the Irish Champion Stakes that took place 23 years ago is still considered emblematic. In the same race, Grandera’s triumph over Hawk Wing left indelible memories for fans, taking place a year later. However, instances of such face-offs are quite uncommon, an exception being Encke’s triumph over Camelot in the 2012 Leger, which left an unpleasant mark on the sport due to Godolphin’s horse later testing positive for an anabolic steroid.
Looking towards the upcoming King George, it can be confidently anticipated as an enticing competition. Coolmore and Darley, powerhouses in the racing arena, are each presenting a 123-rated star, while racing giants, Juddmonte, have the spotlight stealer, Bluestocking.
Bluestocking had her maiden Group One win earlier in July with the Pretty Polly, but her fearsome foes have collectively 11 superior victories to their name.
Auguste Rodin, aiming at his seventh Group One triumph, has an impressive record despite his performance taking a downturn in the past, most notably in last year’s King George. A redemption this time would place him amongst former titans coached by Aidan O’Brien.
Rebel’s Romance, being a gelding, has transformed into a global money-maker for Charlie Appleby, highlighted by his successes in March’s Sheema Classic and subsequently in Hong Kong.”
The Godolphin star, with a Breeders’ Cup and two German Group One wins this year, now has the chance to claim his first top-flight win in the UK. Bluestocking and another horse thrive on quick ground, though Bluestocking seems to perform at her peak with some ease.
Taking up the role of pacemaker, Hans Andersen, along with a strong contender in Luxembourg, provides a crucial play for O’Brien as he aims to claim a fifth win in the traditional all-aged British midsummer race. Galileo remains the only three-year-old horse to have won this race for the Irishman, ever since the original intention of making the King George a generational competition has largely been disrupted.
In the past two decades, only four of the Classic generation have emerged victorious, and this year the only ‘junior’ entrant is last month’s Irish Derby second-place finisher, Sunway. Initially ridden by Oisín Murphy at the Curragh, James Doyle will now take the reins, and despite having to drop to do 8.12, he stands to gain a considerable 11lb advantage over his older competitors and an 8lb lead over Bluestocking.
There’s always been an element of unpredictability surrounding Auguste Rodin. Despite finishing over 120 lengths behind in the previous year’s King George, a win in the Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup indicated his growth in skills. He then had an unexpected loss to Rebel’s Romance in Meydan.
Following a hard-fought victory in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes last month, O’Brien hinted he’s finally figuring out the best strategy for his capricious star. “In last year’s King George, it was soft ground and we likely held him back too much. The outcome wasn’t as bad as it seemed when Ryan [Moore] released pressure after realising a win was out of reach,” remarked the Irishman. Consequently, Auguste Rodin may run a more leading race than usual, especially as Rebel’s Romance has also been racing favorably this season, notably on its home turf in Meydan.
The possibility of another heart-stopping King George finish could be in the cards, with Moore and William Buick potentially going head to head from a significant distance. The previous year’s thrilling conclusion with Hukum taking the win over Westover just enhances the extensive anthology of such high-stakes finishes; yet none can quite match the historic upset when Grundy triumphed over Bustino, a moment entrenched in memory some 49 years on. While it may be a long stretch to match the influence of that iconic duel down the Ascot straight, the chances of a captivating face-off between the titans of the racing world are considerably more certain.