England: Possible Breeders’ Cup contenders face off at Ascot

One of the most important races in all of Europe is taking place Saturday, and Breeders’ Cup fans had better pay close attention.

The Group 1, $1.6 million King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Ascot, England, dates to 1951, and the roster of winners is impressive. The 1 1/2-mile test awards a win-and-you’re-in berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf, and it’s easy to understand why. In the past 15 years, Conduit in 2009, St Nicholas Abbey in 2011, Highland Reel in 2016 and Enable in 2018 won the Breeders’ Cup Turf after winning or competing in the King George.

There’s a decent chance we’ll see the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner compete in this year’s King George VI. The field has come up incredibly deep, so let’s meet the 11 horses in the entries:

No. 1 Bolshoi Ballet. This Aidan O’Brien trainee is already familiar to U.S. racing fans, since he traveled stateside to win the 2021 Belmont Derby Invitational (G1). But he’s gone winless in eight starts since, including the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Turf, and he arrives at Ascot as a long shot.

No. 2 Deauville Legend. This capable 4-year-old has won multiple group stakes, including the 1 1/2-mile Great Voltigeur (G2) in 2022, but he was no match for Pyledriver when kicking off 2023 with a fourth-place finish in the Hardwicke (G2) at Royal Ascot. He must face Pyledriver again.

No. 3 Hamish. An exacta finisher in each of his last six starts, Hamish enters off back-to-back Group 3 stakes wins racing 1 11/16 miles and 1 3/4 miles. His hot form is appealing, but cutting back in distance and stepping up in class are a pair of formidable obstacles.

No. 4 Hukum. A dominant 4 1/4-length winner of the 2022 Coronation Cup (G1) racing 1 1/2 miles, Hukum returned from a long layoff this year to beat 2022 Epsom Derby (G1) winner Desert Crown in the Brigadier Gerard (G3) despite racing over a 1 1/4-mile distance surely shorter than his best. Hukum has won over soft ground similar to the conditions expected for Saturday, so this 6-year-old veteran can’t be counted out of the mix.

No. 5 Luxembourg. The second O’Brien trainee won the 2022 Irish Champion (G1) and 2023 Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) against quality competition, but he’s done his best work over 1 1/4 miles and 1 5/16 miles. The class is there, but Luxembourg has only run once over 1 1/2 miles, finishing seventh in the 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1). The longer distance is a question mark.

No. 6 Point Lonsdale. This O’Brien runner won the Alleged (G3) and Huxley (G2) during the spring but faltered when stepping up in class and distance for the 1 1/2-mile Coronation Cup (G1), finishing a distant third behind the filly Emily Upjohn. He’ll need a move forward to challenge against an even tougher field at Ascot.

No. 7 Pyledriver. The defending King George winner dominated this race by 2 3/4 lengths last year and recently returned from an 11-month layoff to nab the 1 1/2-mile Hardwicke (G2) at Royal Ascot. Racing over soft ground might not be ideal for Pyledriver, but he did nab the 2021 Coronation Cup (G1) over good-to-soft footing, and on his best day he’s capable of taking down a field of this caliber.

No. 8 Westover. Victories in the 2022 Irish Derby (G1) and 2023 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) rank among the highlights of Westover’s seven consecutive starts racing 1 1/2 miles. He couldn’t quite keep pace with Emily Upjohn in the Coronation Cup (G1) two starts back, but that was over good-to-firm ground. Westover thrived over good-to-soft ground at Saint-Cloud this month and may appreciate the soft footing at Ascot.

No. 9 Emily Upjohn. Fillies and mares have won five of the last 11 editions of the King George, and Emily Upjohn has every chance to make that six of the last 12. She beat Westover by 1 3/4 lengths in the 1 1/2-mile Coronation Cup (G1) and then cut back in distance to finish a close second in the Eclipse (G1) over 1 1/4 miles. Stretching back out over her preferred 1 1/2-mile trip can put Emily Upjohn in win contention under legendary jockey Frankie Dettori.

No. 10 Auguste Rodin. The fourth and final O’Brien trainee is shaping up as the favorite after posting back-to-back victories in the 1 1/2-mile Derby (G1) at Epsom and the 1 1/2-mile Irish Derby (G1) at the Curragh. Auguste Rodin is carrying 8-11 fewer pounds than his older rivals and clearly relishes the King George distance, so don’t be surprised if he snatches a third straight Group 1 triumph under internationally acclaimed rider Ryan Moore.

No. 11 King of Steel. The only other sophomore in Saturday’s field came within half a length of upsetting Auguste Rodin when second in the Epsom Derby. He followed that game try with a 3 1/2-length score in the 1 1/2-mile King Edward VII (G2) at Royal Ascot, so don’t count this improving and lightly raced gray colt out of contention.

The King George is the fifth of Ascot’s eight races Saturday. Post time is 10:40 a.m. EDT.