Contenders list for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2017
Prime event on the King George VI weekend is the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. 10 contenders have been finalized. We should have a very tough race on our hands as every one of them will go full throttle to the finish line.
Please check out our article on the contenders list.
Age: 5; Sex: Bay Gelding; Breeding: Halling (USA) - La Chicana (Invincible Spirit (IRE)); Trainer: D M Simcock; Owner: Mr Abdulla Al Mansoori.
Desert Encounter comes in this race with third, second & first positions in the last three outings respectively.
Age: 5; Sex: Bay Horse; Breeding: Galileo (IRE) - Hveger (Danehill (USA)); Trainer: A P O'Brien; Owner: Mr D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, Mr M Tab
Highland Reel comes in this race with first, first & seventh positions in the last three outings respectively.
Last year’s winner and crowd favourite, has gone from strength to strength since, but the worry is the good-to-soft ground as he definitely at his best with firm ground. Should appear in the top five.
Age: 4; Sex: Bay Colt; Breeding: Galileo (IRE) - Hveger (Danehill (USA)); Trainer: A P O'Brien; Owner: Mr M Tabor, D Smith & Mrs John Magni
Idaho comes in this race with first, sixth & fifth positions in the last three outings respectively.
Not only a stablemate of Highland Reel but a full-brother too. He is very good in middle-distance races but this one may be too tough for him.
Age: 5; Sex: Brown Horse; Breeding: Halling (USA) - Swain's Gold (USA) (Swain (IRE)); Trainer: J H M Gosden; Owner: Godolphin & Partners
Jack Hobbs comes in this race with eight, first & third positions in the last three outings respectively.
He’s going to enjoy eating up the good-to-soft ground. Gosden concurs, and said: "Jack Hobbs was very fortunate to get his ground in Dubai, but not so fortunate at Royal Ascot.” He’s likely to give Enable a run for her money. One to beat
Age: 6; Sex: Chestnut Horse; Breeding: Elusive Quality (USA) - Misty Ocean (USA) (Stormy Atlantic (USA)); Trainer: J H M Gosden; Owner: Godolphin
Maverick Wave comes in this race with forth, tenth & tenth positions in the last three outings respectively.
Smart on his day but he’s a pacemaker for Jack Hobbs.
Age: 5; Sex: Bay Horse; Breeding: Lord Shanakill (USA) - Betty Burke (Choisir (AUS)) Trainer: C G Cox; Owner: Paul & Clare Rooney
My Dream Boat comes in this race with fourth, second & third positions in the last three outings respectively.
Clive Cox has been happy to see rain for My Dream Boat, who is a tip-top performer on soft ground as he showed when beating Found in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2016. Hard to make a convincing case for him despite representing top connections.
Age: 4; Sex: Chestnut Colt; Breeding: Galileo (IRE) - Light Shift (USA) (Kingmambo (USA)); Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute; Owner: Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd
Ulysses comes in this race with first, third & first positions in the last three outings respectively.
Although he is strong traveller, he may not be suited for proper stamina test at the trip in soft ground.
Age: 4; Sex: Bay Colt; Breeding: Sixties Icon - Blissful Song (USA) (Unbridled's Song (USA)); Trainer: A Dassie; Owner: Haras Santa Elena
Sixties Song comes in this race with third, first & first positions in the last three outings respectively.
The star middle-distance performer in Argentina. But it could be a great surprise if see off the best of Britain and Ireland on his first outing in this hemisphere.
Age: 3; Sex: Bay Colt; Breeding: Dubawi (IRE) - Nahrain (Selkirk (USA)); Trainer: S bin Suroor; Owner: Godolphin
Benbatl comes in this race with first, fifth & second positions in the last three outings respectively.
He did extremely well in the Dubai Sheema Classic with soft ground. He’s the wild-card against proven older horses – and the best middle-distance horse of his own generation.
Age: 3; Sex: Bay Filly; Breeding: Nathaniel (IRE) - Concentric (Sadler's Wells (USA)); Trainer: J H M Gosden; Owner: Mr K Abdullah.
Enable comes in this race with first, first & first positions in the last three outings respectively.
Although bred for soft ground, he’s never been proven on it. She’s got the weight and sex advantage and a very experienced champion rider on her back. Is the one to beat.
Jack Hobbs
Enable
Benbatl