Scintillating Betfair King George in prospect

Danedream and jockey Andrasch Starke celebrate after their 2011 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victory. Can they repeat that performance in Saturday’s Betfair King George? Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

The winners of many of the world’s biggest races are set to descend on Ascot this Saturday for what promises to be an epic King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Sponsored by Betfair, race five in the QIPCO British Champions Series Middle Distance category.

The 12 runners left in the contest prior to Thursday’s declaration stage include top level winners in the UK, France, the USA, Australia and Japan.

Nathaniel, who ten days ago won the Coral-Eclipse Stakes on his seasonal reappearance, is seeking a second successive Betfair King George, having defeated the 2010 Arc winner, Workforce, in the race 12 months ago.

This time he will have to defeat another Arc winner in Danedream, the brilliant German filly who bolted up in French showpiece race last October.

He will also have to beat this year’s Japanese Derby winner, Deep Brillante, the one three-year-old in the field, and last year’s Melbourne Cup winner, Dunaden.

That’s without mentioning the dual Investec Coronation Cup winner, St Nicholas Abbey, who also won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf in the USA.

Then there’s the deeply impressive and improving Hardwicke Stakes winner, Sea Moon, representing Sir Michael Stoute’s stable, and the high class French-trained pair of Reliable Man and Shareta.

The 2011 Ladbrokes St Leger winner, Masked Marvel, the Michael Owen-owned Brown Panther and the Coolmore pacemakers Robin Hood and Windsor Knot complete the possible list of runners.

Get along to Ascot if you can – it promises to be a raceday to remember!