Sir Michael Stoute pair primed for King George

Stoute has fond memories of his previous five King George winners. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Sir Michael Stoute is seeking a record sixth QIPCO-sponsored King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes triumph at Ascot on Saturday and has issued an upbeat bulletin about his contenders, Crystal Ocean and Poet’s Word, who dominate the betting.

“Both horses seem in good shape and their preparations have gone well,” he said. “They have both been in good form this year so, touch wood, we are happy at this stage.

“Crystal Ocean has won all three of his starts this year and he has won over the course and distance at Ascot . The ground may be fast, but he is actually impervious to ground.

“He comes from a very good Rothschild family and they seem to improve with age – good, honest horses.

“The win of Poet’s Word in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot would have been his best performance to date. He ran very well in the Dubai Sheema Classic too – he is effective at a mile and a half.

“He has been recording high levels of form and seems versatile in terms of distance. He has won at the track too and his preparation has gone well.”

The Newmarket trainer added: “It is a very high level race and is always competitive. My horses have decent form and are first and second favourite. They may not finish first and second, but they are entitled to be in there.

“William Buick will ride Crystal Ocean, who is usually Ryan Moore’s mount but he will be taken by Ballydoyle this weekend, while James Doyle will again be on Poet’s Word.”

The £1.25 million King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes forms part of the 35-race QIPCO British Champions Series and Stoute also reflected on some of his previous winners of the race.

“Shergar (1981) gave us an anxious moment as he was short of room on the turn for home, but he still won impressively,” he said.

“Harbinger (2010) ran to his very best form – he was a serious machine that day. He kept progressing, from the Ormonde to the Hardwicke and then again for the King George. Sadly, he got an injury when we were preparing him for the Juddmonte.

“Opera House (1993) was a very good and solid performer. Conduit (2009) was a model of consistency – a sound and lovely horse who won two Breeders’ Cups.

“It was Golan’s (2002) first appearance of the year – that was a good feat – a Guineas winner from the year before and second in the Derby. He was a pretty decent horse, but probably did not get the credit he deserved.

“Some lovely horses in a great race.”