The likelihood of fast ground for Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. has left a few former contenders likely to stay on the sidelines, but Sir Michael Stoute says he is happy with his charges Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Poet's Word (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}).
Trainer Andre Fabre told Racing Post on Tuesday that he would bypass Ascot's midsummer showpiece with his G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), while Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) also looks unlikely for trainer John Gosden.
Stoute said of his Royal Ascot winners Crystal Ocean and Poet's Word, “Both horses seem in good shape and their preparations have gone well. 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.”
“The win of Poet's Word in the Prince Of Wales's S. 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–10 or 12 furlongs. He has won at the track too and his preparation has gone well.”
Stoute revealed that William Buick will ride Crystal Ocean with regular rider Ryan Moore needed for Ballydoyle's Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while James Doyle keeps the mount on Poet's Word.
Of his G2 Queen's Vase and G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Kew Gardens, trainer Aidan O'Brien said, “Kew Gardens is a progressive horse and physically he seems to be stepping up with every run. We had our eye on the King George for a long time with him, as he is a horse who stays very well and enjoys fast ground. With the King George, you usually have to handle good ground or quicker with the race being at the height of summer. We thought after Royal Ascot that it would help him to have another race back over 12 furlongs and that's when we decided to go to Longchamp as it fitted in perfectly for us ahead of the King George. We felt we would get a better picture of his chances in the King George if he ran at Longchamp. Ryan [Moore] was very happy with him and took his time on him in France. He rode him like a good horse.”
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