Eleven stand their ground in Prince of Wales’s Stakes

Al Kazeem defeats Camelot in Ireland last month – the big rematch is on for next Wednesday! Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

When Camelot lined up for last month’s Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland at odds of 4-11, most people thought the result was a foregone conclusion.

However, the one horse that had the possibility to beat him, the Roger Charlton-trained Al Kazeem, did so.

He won by a comfortable length and a half from last year’s QIPCO 2000 Guineas, Investec Derby and Irish Derby winner, Camelot, who came so agonisngly close to winning the Triple Crown when narrowly failing to beat Encke in the Ladbrokes St Leger in September.

There may have been excuses for Camelot, however, with his trainer, Aidan O’Brien, saying afterwards that he was not fully fit because they had taken their time with him after his life was nearly claimed by colic last October.

Having said that, Charlton has been bullish about Al Kazeem, who has undoubtedly hit peak form this season.

The re-match promises to be fascinating with several other credible challengers in the race, including Red Cadeaux, The Fugue and French raider Maxios.

The final declarations for the mile and a quarter contest, race three in the Middle Distance division of the QIPCO British Champions Series, will be made on Monday morning.