Conduit heads KGVI and QE Stakes Sat.

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Conduit heads 11 for Saturday's King George


THE Sir Michael Stoute-trained trio of Conduit, Tartan Bearer and Ask feature among 11 possibles for Saturday's Betfair-sponsored King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes after Monday's confirmation stage.



Aidan O'Brien is seeking a third consecutive King George victory following the successes of Dylan Thomas and Duke Of Marmalade and he has left in Frozen Fire, Freemantle, Golden Sword and Rockhampton.



Luca Cumani's Eclipse fourth Cima De Triomphe and the Ralph Beckett-trained filly Look Here are other major contenders, while Scintillo and Alwaary complete the field.

The leading seven horses in the ante-post market were among the five-day declarations for Saturday's Group 1 contest, with Conduit a general 2-1 favourite, but among those not confirmed is Masterofthehorse, who had been as short as 14-1 in places.

Coral make Tartan Bearer their 10-3 second choice (behind 2-1 favourite Conduit) and expect that price to shorten should Ryan Moore switch allegiance from the favourite at the 11th hour.

"Although Conduit has been favourite for the King George since we opened betting, and his third place behind Sea The Stars in the Coral-Eclipse is top-class form, should stable jockey Ryan Moore opt to ride Tartan Bearer, the latter could well start favourite for the big race," said Coral's David Stevens.

Paddy Power cut the favourite to 7-4 from 15-8, while making Look Here a 13-2 chance.

Ralph Beckett is hoping the Coronation Cup third can return to winning ways and overcome Epsom conqueror Ask this time around.


Although last year's Oaks heroine has won on good to soft ground, when she landed her maiden from Doctor Fremantle at Salisbury, Beckett is hoping that the unsettled forecast remains dry.

Following her third in the Audi Pretty Polly Stakes last time, Beckett said: "She is fine, in good nick, and has gone well since the Pretty Polly. I would think that the way the race will be run, the distance and the track will all suit her.

"She would prefer quicker ground than a slower surface. It was a close battle with Ask at Epsom and I am looking forward to taking him on again."

Ascot waters after ground quickens


ASCOT began watering on Monday in preparation for Saturday's King George fixture after another dry day saw ground conditions quicken to good to firm, firm in places.

Chris Stickels, clerk of the course, said less than 1mm of rain had been recorded since Friday night.

"As a result, we've put 10mm of water on the straight course and alsofrom the Old Mile. We're forecast some rain for Tuesday, but then it is more or less a mixture of sunshine and showers with no large volumes of rain over the remainder of the week," said Stickels.

A Met Office spokesman said the heavy rain originally expected over the area on Tuesday is now less likely, and may fall to the west of the racecourse.

He said: "There will be some rain, and possibly further spells overnight on Thursday. Otherwise, it will bea mixture of sunny spells and light showers."

Latest betting

18/10 Conduit
4/1 Tartan Bearer
13/2 Golden Sword
7/1 Look Here

12/1 bar

Not been too impressed with Conduit and Tartan Bearer this season infact Stoutes horses are not as all Conquering as we expect,if i was betting any of stoutes horses it would be ASK at around 12/1 a real fighter and good value..

Must say no "champ" here, plus Aidan has 4 runners.

Remember when Mill Reef won the King George, they recon the best winner ever of the race.

King George pick down to Moore, says Stoute


SIR MICHAEL STOUTE has stressed that he will not seek to influence stable jockey Ryan Moore's decision between the trainer's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes principals Conduit and Tartan Bearer.

Moore has admitted that he has been "leaning towards Conduit for some time", and if he does select the Ladbrokes St Leger and Breeders' Cup Turf winner, Mick Kinane will come in for the mount on last year's Investec Derby runner-up Tartan Bearer in the Betfair-backed King George.

Speaking to the Racing Post, Stoute - who also plans to saddle Investec Coronation Cup winner Ask under Olivier Peslier providing ground conditions are suitable - is not losing sleep over Moore's deliberations.

He said: "We've got Ryan Moore and Mick Kinane, so I don't see what all the fuss is about.


"The form book shows that there isn't a lot between the two horses and they arenow both going to be running over what I think is their optimum trip. Ryan is stable jockey and it will be his selection and his call, but he may want to see what conditions are like, which happens frequently in big races."

Kinane, enjoying a stellar season thanks to Sea The Stars, said: "It's not an easy choice for Ryan to make. They are both legitimate contenders and either of them could win. I'm happy to get the call up and I'll be happy to ride whichever horse Ryan doesn't."

Moore opts to ride Conduit in King George


RYAN MOORE will ride Conduit in Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot with Mick Kinane taking the mount on the other Ballymacoll Stud-owned horse, Tartan Bearer, in Britain's premier all-aged Flat race.

Stoute's stable jockey has painstakingly been deliberating over the choice of two high class colts but has decided to stay loyal to the Emirates Airline Breeders Cup' Turf winner.

Moore wasn't available for comment on Wednesday but Sir Michael Stoute confirmed: "Ryan will ride Conduit and Mick Kinane will ride Tartan Bearer."

Labrokes St Leger winner Conduit continued to firm up for the Group 1 event on Wednesday, being cut to 13-8 (from 7-4) with Blue Square, Paddy Power and Stan James to 7-4 from 2-1 with Coral.

Conduit to win, Cima de Triomphe for a first 4 finish. I sniff a Quartet coming up. Lol.

magiclips Wrote:

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> Conduit to win, Cima de Triomphe for a first 4
> finish. I sniff a Quartet coming up. Lol.

Think i heard cima was scratched

Whoops...thanks, hib.

it has been scratched

Moore hoping Conduit has improvement in him


RYAN MOORE has let his head rule his heart in his choice of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes mount, and his selected horse, Conduit, was on Friday night the general 7-4 favourite to win Saturday's showpiece.


The Ladbrokes St Leger andEmirates Airline Breeders' Cup winner has been targeted at the King George - a prime reason why Moore opted for him instead of his favourite horse at Sir Michael Stoute's yard, Tartan Bearer, the general 7-2 second favourite for Ascot, who will be ridden by Mick Kinane.

Moore said on Friday: "Conduit's form in the book is a little bit stronger. He won at the Breeders' Cup and that was it.

"Tartan is my favourite horse - you won't get a tougher horse in racing - but I had to make a choice.

"The boss left it to me, but to be honest from the end of last year Conduit was being aimed at the King George and I hope he would have a bit more improvement to come.

"Tartan will improve, too, while I thought Ask [Stoute's third King George runner] was the best horse we had and I wouldn't get off him, but the problem was that we could get fast ground here, and is that what he really likes?

"Conduit and Tartan have both got form on all surfaces, while Ask's is on slightly slower."

Three-year-olds are represented in the King George for the first time since 2005, with three of the nine runners from the Classic generation.

They are headed by general 9-2 third favourite Golden Sword, trained by Aidan O'Brien, who was runner-up to Fame And Glory in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby last time.