AUGUSTE RODIN heads of field of nine for Saturday’s blockbuster King George at Ascot.
Aidan O’Brien’s former Derby winner has been made the 5-4 favourite for the £1.25million Group 1.
But fierce competition comes in the shape of Ralph Beckett’s filly Bluestocking and Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting Group 1 winner Rebel’s Romance.
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They are second and third favourites respectively at 7-2 and 4-1 with Coral, who see it as a bit of a three-horse race.
Ballydoyle boss O’Brien has also declared Coronation Cup winner Luxembourg (10-1) and 100-1 pacemaker Hans Andersen.
David Menuisier saddles Irish Derby second Sunway (12-1) while William Haggas’ Dubai Honour comes in at 14-1.
Middle Earth will represent the father-and-son John & Thady Gosden team while French raider Goliath faces a massive task at 33s.
Coral’s David Stevens said: “Following his Royal Ascot victory last month, Auguste Rodin is a warm favourite to win what looks an extremely classy King George.
“But with four other last time out Group 1nwinners among his rivals, the Ballydoyle colt is still odds-against to land another big prize.”
King George odds, runners and riders
5-4 Auguste Rodin
Stall: 2
Aidan O’Brien
Ryan Moore
7-2 Rebel’s Romance
Stall: 3
Charlie Appleby
William Buick
4-1 Bluestocking
Stall: 9
Ralph Beckett
Rossa Ryan
10-1 Luxembourg
Stall: 1
Aidan O’Brien
Wayne Lordan
12-1 Sunway
Stall: 7
David Menuisier
James Doyle
12-1 Middle Earth
Stall: 4
John & Thady Gosden
Oisin Murphy
14-1 Dubai Honour
Stall: 8
William Haggas
Tom Marquand
33-1 Goliath
Stall: 6
F-H Graffard
Christophe Soumillon
100-1 Hans Andersen
Stall: 5
Aidan O’Brien
Sean Levey
King George 1-2-3 prediction
Lost among some were the words of MV Magnier when speaking about Auguste Rodin in Japan recently.
He said of the former Derby winner: “We’ve figured him out now. He needs quick ground and to be ridden aggressively.”
Everything at Ascot on Saturday should play into that and see him make amends for flopping completely 12 months earlier.
Bluestocking looks to have finally come good and can give Rebel’s Romance a race for second, with her fillies’ weight allowance perhaps proving crucial.
But then again she has mainly been kept to races for fillies and will find this a tough step up against battle-hardened veterans.
David Menuisier’s highly-promising Sunway shapes as if 1m4f with a stiff finish will play to his strengths.
1st Auguste Rodin
2nd Rebel’s Romance
3rd Bluestocking
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