COLM O’DONOGHUE could not be happier with Cape Blanco ahead of Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. The midsummer highlight looks like being one of the hottest renewals in years with record-breaking Derby winner Workforce and his stablemate Harbinger in the line-up.
But O’Donoghue, who is replacing the suspended Johnny Murtagh on the Irish Derby winner, is in high spirits ahead of the Group One.
“I’m very confident and very happy with my horse going into the race,” he said of the Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old.
“He’s in great order, he’s in great shape. He has possibly gone forward from his Irish Derby run and hopefully he can put up a very good performance.”
In Cape Blanco and Workforce, the Classic generation have a golden opportunity of winning the race for the first time since 2003 when Irish Derby winner Alamshar beat Epsom victor Kris Kin.
Workforce is trained by Sir Michael Stoute, just like his main market rival Harbinger as the Freemason Lodge handler approaches the race in which he saddled the first three home 12 months ago.
Harbinger will be ridden by Olivier Peslier for the first time, as Stoute’s stable jockey Ryan Moore has elected to partner Workforce.
Stoute also runs Confront, who is expected to act as a pacemaker.
Adding further strength in depth to the older horse division is Mick Channon’s perennial bridesmaid Youmzain, last seen getting pipped again in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Youmzain has twice been placed in the race, as well as finishing runner-up in the last three renewals of the Arc.
Alain de Royer-Dupre’s Hong Kong Vase winner Daryakana also competes.
BETTING: King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes: (Sky Bet) – Evs Workforce, 5-2 Harbinger, 6-1 Cape Blanco, 14-1 Youmzain, Dar Re Mi, 16-1 Daryakana, 200-1 Confront.
