Pinstickers’ guide to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes

Enable the one to beat – but Sovereign and Japan pose real threat.

Anthony Van Dyck (Aidan O’Brien, trainer)

Anthony Van Dyck after winning the 2019 Investec Derby
Anthony Van Dyck after winning the 2019 Investec Derby (Simon Cooper/PA)

This son of Galileo is winless in seven starts since providing his trainer with a seventh victory in the Investec Derby at Epsom little over a year ago, but has run some fine races in defeat. The Galileo colt made an encouraging start to the current campaign when splitting Ghaiyyath and Stradivarius in the Coronation Cup at Newmarket, but floundered in the mud at Royal Ascot. It would be no surprise to see him bounce back to something like his best on a sounder surface, but it might not be enough. Rating (out of 10) 6

Japan (Aidan O’Brien)

Japan (near side) winning the Juddmonte International at York
Japan (near side) winning the Juddmonte International at York (Nigel French/PA)

After finishing a half-length third to Anthony Van Dyck in last year’s Derby, Japan went on to enjoy a tremendous summer as he landed the King Edward VII Stakes, the Grand Prix de Paris and the Juddmonte International, before finishing fourth in the Arc. His Royal Ascot comeback was a little underwhelming, but he was only a head behind Enable when third in the Eclipse three weeks ago. The problem for Japan is, of the pair, Enable is the one more likely to improve given it was her first start of 2020. 8

Sovereign (Aidan O’Brien)

Aidan O'Brien and Padraig Beggy with Sovereign after winning the Irish Derby
Aidan O’Brien and Padraig Beggy with Sovereign after winning the Irish Derby (PA)

Caused a bit of a shock when cutting loose on the front end to win last year’s Irish Derby, and we did not see him again on a racecourse for almost exactly 12 months. There was definite promise in his comeback in the Vintage Crop Stakes, finishing third without being given an unduly hard race, and significant progress is expected. He might be the fly in the ointment at attractive odds, especially if similar front-running tactics are employed from his finest hour. 9

Enable (John Gosden)

Frankie Dettori jumps from Enable after winning last year's King George
Frankie Dettori jumps from Enable after winning last year’s King George (Julian Herbert/PA)

There is not much to say about John Gosden’s remarkable mare that has not already been said. The dual Arc heroine was utterly brilliant in this race in 2017 and got the better of Crystal Ocean in a race for the ages 12 months ago. Connections could not have been more clear in saying she was a long way from her peak when she made her return to action in the Eclipse, so to finish second to an extremely talented and in-form front-runner in Ghaiyyath was a more than satisfactory start to her season. With that run under her belt and returning to a mile and a half, Enable is incredibly difficult to oppose. 10

Verdict:

The lack of a three-year-old in this year’s King George is a disappointment, but hardly surprising given the late start to the season and the proximity of the race to both the English and Irish Derbys earlier in the month. ENABLE is out to become the first ever three-time winner of the prestigious contest and is expected to do just that following her pleasing comeback in the Eclipse. Japan was only just behind the great mare at Sandown, but did have a fitness edge and Enable is expected to confirm her superiority. Sovereign is the dark horse in the field. Last year’s shock Irish Derby winner was a big eyecatcher on his return to action at the Curragh and it would be no surprise to see him take a big step forward and potentially deny Japan the runner-up spot.

1. Enable 2. Sovereign 3. Japan

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