Auguste Rodin Leads The Way
This year, it could be Auguste Rodin, who currently leads the betting at 7/4 with Rhino. He was last seen winning the Prince Of Wales’s by three-quarters of a length at Royal Ascot under a good ride from Ryan Moore. Though he wasn’t flashy, I thought he always looked like he was winning the race.
The key to him, however, is good ground. He doesn’t like it too soft, and that was the reason given for why he ran so poorly in this race last year. All his best form when winning at the Breeders’ Cup or the Epsom Derby has been on quick ground, so you need to have a weather watch if you’re going to back him. I do think he’s probably the most likely winner if he gets his conditions, but I wouldn’t want to take 7/4 about him.
City Of Troy is next in the market, but connections have indicated that the Juddmonte Stakes at York will probably be next on the agenda for him, so we can cross him off the list.
Will We Rebel’s Romance On UK Shores?
Rebel’s Romance would certainly be an interesting contender if Charlie Appleby did send him here. We’ve not seen him in the UK for a while, as he’s been off globetrotting in Dubai and Hong Kong, picking up two Group 1s in the process. It’s hard to get a handle on his form, but he certainly needs respect. Most of his form has come on quick ground, so it looks like the weather will be key to his chances, and he has to be left alone for the time being.
Bluestocking Has To Improve Against The Boys
Bluestocking has her supporters for this race. She’s finally found the winning habit this season, which included a Group 1 success in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh last month. However, my concern about her would be taking on the boys. The daughter of Camelot has mainly campaigned against fillies and mares this season, and these races can sometimes find them out. She’ll handle most types of ground, but I think she might just come up a bit short here.
Hardwicke The Key Form Line
The form line I am focusing on is the Hardwicke Stakes from Royal Ascot, which was won by Isle Of Jura. Though it was a bit of a surprise that he won, I don’t think it was a fluke, despite the race being run at a slow pace. He’s a horse who racked up a winning sequence in Bahrain and then continued it over here with a success at Goodwood. It’s a shame he’s not going to be able to run as he picked up a knock, which has ruled him out for the rest of the season.
Gutsy Goliath
However, there are two horses that finished behind him that day that I have my eye on here. The first one is Goliath for Francis-Henri Graffard. I thought he ran very well to finish second, and he was given a great ride by Maxime Guyon. He’s been progressing very well, and he’ll handle any ease in the ground being a German-bred horse. The four-year-old gelding would need to improve again, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did, and he makes my shortlist.
Middle Earth Moving On Up
The other one I like for this race, who was my selection in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot that day, is Middle Earth for John and Thady Gosden. He was given too much to do in the Hardwicke, as he was out that back early, and he was the only horse to come off the pace. Oisin Murphy said he thinks the race was a good prep for this one, and if he had been ridden a bit closer, he probably would have been involved in the finish.
Before that, he had won well at Newbury, and last year, he progressed very well with each run. I do not think we’ve not seen the best of him yet, and with his current price of 18/1, I’d be happy to have a saver on him.
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Antepost Picks
Middle Earth (18/1)
Goliath (25/1)