Racing: Nathaniel faces fight to keep Ascot crown

Published on 21/07/2012 03:48

JOHN Gosden insists Coral-Eclipse hero Nathaniel has plenty on his plate as he aims to secure a quick-fire Group 1 double in today’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

The Galileo colt was an impressive winner of the showpiece 12 months ago, his second course and distance victory after his triumph in last season’s King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. He signed off for the year by finishing fifth in the Champion Stakes and looked better than ever when scoring on his four-year-old debut in the Eclipse.

However, this year’s King George arrives just a fortnight after the Sandown race and Gosden admits his charge faces a real fight to defend his crown, tackling proven top-class performers like St Nicholas Abbey and Sea Moon. “It’s only a two-week gap and I can’t emphasise how tough that is for a horse. He had a hard race at Sandown but he has eaten well, he looks well and has been scoping great and you need to have a go at these top races,” said the Clarehaven handler. “St Nicholas Abbey won the Breeders’ Cup Turf well, he didn’t look like he did much at the Curragh and then his run in the Coronation Cup was good. It’s nice to meet him, and these races need the form horses. Sea Moon sets a solid standard too, and it looks a good race.” Sir Michael Stoute’s Sea Moon scrambled home when long odds-on for his seasonal reappearance at Goodwood, but was far more impressive in the Hardwicke Stakes. He has ground to make up on St Nicholas Abbey on last year’s running of the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Stoute is “hopeful rather than confident” of securing his sixth King George triumph. “It’s a very competitive renewal, that’s for sure – Nathaniel, St Nicholas Abbey and there are others too who are very decent Group 1 horses,” he said. “But we’re glad to be in there having a shot at it because he’s come through the Hardwicke well and he’s pleasing us.”

St Nicholas Abbey’s jockey Joseph O’Brien is eagerly anticipating the race, and said: “It’s a good race and we’re looking forward to it. He won well the last time and he seems to be in good enough form. There are a few more runners than last year, so hopefully there will be something forcing the pace, we go a nice, even gallop and the best horse wins. Hopefully the ground will dry out – it wouldn’t be ideal for it to be too soft.”

Fourth in the betting is Mikel Delzangles-trained French raider Dunaden. Last year’s Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Vase hero has not won in three starts so far this season, but there has been progress on each occasion.

The six-year-old met trouble in running when second behind Sea Moon last month and David Redvers, racing manager for owners Pearl Bloodstock, is keeping his fingers crossed for a clearer run this weekend. He said: “I’m not actually worried about the opposition. I’m worried about him getting a clear run because he has to come from off the pace as that’s his style and it would be cruel if he ran into trouble again. I just think he’s a tough, battling horse and if he’s in the right place at the right time, he’ll outbattle anything. The long-term plan is definitely the Arc.”

Tom Dascombe’s Brown Panther won over the course and distance in last year’s King George V Stakes and went on to prove himself at the highest level when second in the St Leger at Doncaster. He ran abysmally on his seasonal return at Chester, but bounced back with an authoritative victory in lesser company at Pontefract, earning him a step back up in class. “He’s all ready to go and I’m very happy with him going into the race,” said Dascombe.

Tomorrow’s big race is the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh. Dermot Weld’s filly, Princess Highway, could not have been more impressive in last month’s Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and had been the general ante-post favourite for this weekend’s fillies’ Classic.

However, news of a minor problem came to light this week and with further doubts about the ground, she has been usurped at the head of the market by the Gosden-trained Great Heavens.

SELECTIONS

Ascot

1.35 White Frost

2.10 Toronado

2.45 Chil The Kite

3.20 Carlton House

3.55 Excellent Guest

4.35 St Nicholas Abbey

5.10 Gospel Choir

Cartmel

2.25 Brady

3.00 Northern Flame

3.35 Fog Patches

4.10 Wave Power

4.50 Constant

Contact (nap)

5.25 Shoegazer

5.55 Wheyaye.

Haydock

6.30 Lucy Bee

7.00 Rosselli

7.30 Sohcahtoa

8.00 French Press

8.30 Lethal Force

9.00 Ascription

Lingfield

6.15 Tobacco Road

6.45 Risky Rizkova

7.15 Huzzah

7.45 Catchanova

8.15 Munsarim

8.45 Buzkashi

Market Rasen

1.45 Ctappers

2.15 Roman Flight

2.50 Court In Session

3.25 Tiger O’Toole

4.00 Compton Blue

4.40 Highland River

5.15 The Darling Boy

Newmarket

2.00 Elbe

2.35 Noverre To Go

3.10 Elas Diamond

3.45 Levitate

4.25 Hoarding

5.00 Cathedral

5.35 Touch Gold

Ripon

1.55 Tricky Madam

2.30 Rosdhu Queen

3.05 Daruband

3.40 Inthar

4.20 Carragold

4.55 Art Form

5.30 Mangham

6.05 Izzet

TOMORROW

Ascot

2.15 Sea Shanty (nap)

2.50 Rawaki

3.25 Fast Finian

4.00 Las Verglas Star

4.35 Light Shine

5.05 Burning Thread

Newton Abbot

2.25 Dalmo

3.00 Deb’s Dasher

3.35 Keenes Day

4.10 Diamond Eclipse

4.45 Romeo Americo

5.15 Cypress Grove

5.45 Foxes Bridge