The Aiden O’Brien trained Love is the 6-5 morning line favorite for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) on Saturday. (Photo credit: Ascot Racecourse).
A stellar field of six will line up on Saturday at Ascot Racecourse in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) including the brilliant filly Love.
The winner of the race earns an automatic starting berth and fees expenses paid trip to Del Mar this November for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). The race is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” program.
The winner last year was the John Gosden trained Enable, who won the for a record third time. In addition to last year the mare won the race in 2017 and 2019.
Love is the 6-5 morning line favorite and is currently listed between 5-4 and 11-8 in early wagering overseas. The filly already stamped her ticket to the Breeders; Cup Turf with her victory in the Prince of Wales (G1) at Royal Ascot on June 16.
That outing was her first since last August where she won the Yorkshire Oaks (G1). She has now won four in a row and 7 of her 11 lifetime outings. Ryan Moore has the return call for trainer Aiden O’Brien. She was perfect in 2020, kicking off her season by winning the Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes (G1) and then taking the Epsom Oaks (G1).
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2012 Prince of Wales Replay
Among her foes is Epsom Derby (G1) winner Adayar (2-1), who is trained by Charles Appleby. The son of Frankel pulled off the upset in the Epsom Derby at 16-1. He has won two of his five career starts. William Buick has the ride.
“I’m delighted with his preparation; he looks a million dollars,” Appley Said. “It’s going to be a fantastic race to watch hopefully and whoever wins it will be top of the mile and a half division. It looks at the moment as if it was a good Derby. It [winning the King George and the Derby] hasn’t been done since Galileo so for Adayar to turn up here is a huge occasion for everybody.”
Mishriff (8-1) will be saddled by John and Thady Gosden and is coming off a third-place finish in the Coral Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown Park in his last effort. The colt won his two previous outings, taking the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan in March and the Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abudulaziz in February. David Egan retains the mount.
“I thought Mishriff was a bit gassy at Sandown in the first half of the race, which happens to a lot of horses after some time off, and I just wondered whether he needed a race under his belt to get him spot on,” said Ted Voute, racing manager to owner Prince Faisal. “He seemed to run very well backing up from Saudi to Dubai.”
2021 Epsom Derby Replay
Broome (20-1) is sent out by O’Brien and is coming in off a victory in the Grand Prix De Saint Cloud (G1) at 1 ½ miles over soft ground in his last start. The five-year-old has won 7 of 17 career starts and has run first or second in each of his last six starts. He ran second in the Hardwicke Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot back in June.
Wonderful Tonight (15-1) was the winner of the Hardwicke in her last outing. That victory was her first start since winning the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (G1) last October at Ascot.
Completing the field is Lone Eagle (7-1) who was beaten a neck in the Irish Derby (G1) in his last start on June 26 at the Curragh. The winner of that race was the Appleby trained Hurricane Lane who came back to win the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) at Longchamp in his next outing.
Frankie Dettori has the mount on the son of Galileo. The sire won this race back in 2001.
The Wager
Love is the obvious one to beat but at close to even money won’t offer much bang for the buck. Same goes for Adayar who seems likely to go off at 2-1 or 5-2. Mishriff looks like the play, currently at 8-1 or 9-1 overseas. However, with two high profile wins, the U.S. bettors may latch on to this guy. I’ll take a stab if we get 6-1 or better.
