Jan Brueghel spearheads stellar list of King George contenders
O'Brien's Epsom Oaks runner-up Whirl, who has been mentioned in terms of the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, has stood her ground, while the Ballydoyle handler is also responsible for Continuous.
Like last year's winner Goliath, Calandagan is trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and pushed Jan Brueghel all the way at Epsom. The Aga Khan Studs-owned gelding has since bagged an elusive Group One victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel's Romance, meanwhile, showed he is as good as ever in recording a popular triumph in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Andrew Balding's Group One winner Kalpana is another representative for the fillies, with Jessica Harrington's Green Impact bolstering the Irish challenge.
Kalpana will be stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time this season, at the scene of her biggest success to date, the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes back in October.
Her two outings this season have been in Ireland, finishing third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and second in the Pretty Polly Stakes, both at the Curragh.
Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon said: 'Kalpana is all systems go for the King George. This has been her intended target since her last run in Ireland and she is in good shape.
'I think her two runs this year have been very solid. We know she is proven over a mile and a half on soft ground, so for her to produce those performances over 10 furlongs on quicker ground is very promising.
'We would be hopeful of a strong showing on Saturday back over 12 furlongs, for all it looks a competitive race. Calandagan is a top-class horse and we all saw what Jan Brueghel did at Epsom. I don't know if Lambourn will line up as well, but a Derby winner always commands respect.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
9 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Legendary jockey Kieren Fallon tips ‘overlooked' superstar to stun them all in £1.5million King George
Victory would see the horse smash the £11million career earnings mark ROM COM Legendary jockey Kieren Fallon tips 'overlooked' superstar to stun them all in £1.5million King George Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LEGENDARY jockey Kieren Fallon has tipped an 'overlooked' superstar to stun them all in Saturday's £1.5million King George. The blockbuster Ascot Group 1 is being billed as a mouthwatering rematch between Coronation Cup 1-2 Jan Brueghel and Calandagan. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Rebel's Romance ridden by William Buick on their way to winning the Hardwicke Stakes during day five of Royal Ascot Credit: PA Aidan O'Brien's runner got the better of the French raider that day but the market has Calandagan reversing the form this time. Nestled behind them in the betting is Andrew Balding's Kalpana, who will get 3lb from the big boys. But Fallon, who won the King George on Golan in 2002, is happy to bypass the market leaders and go for one at an each-way price, even if bookies are only paying two places. The six-time champion jockey is drawn to the chances of globetrotting sensation and 6-1 fancy Rebel's Romance. The Charlie Appleby-trained, Godolphin-owned hero has won more than £10m in his career and finished first in three of four races this year. Most recent of those was his Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes victory at Royal Ascot. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds Saturday's feature will pit the best of the best against each over 1m4f. Here's how the bookies currently have it... 13-8 Calandagan 7-4 Jan Brueghel 9-2 Kalpana 6-1 Rebel's Romance 12-1 Lambourn 16-1 Whirl 33-1 Green Impact 100-1 Continuous Not only did that salvage what was turning into a disastrous week for Appleby, but it confirmed he loves the Berkshire track in the summer. Fallon reckons everything points towards conditions suiting again on Saturday. And he thinks Rebel's Romance, despite being three years older than Jan Brueghel and Calandagan, has plenty of miles left in the tank. He said on Sky Sports Racing: "I would love to ride Rebel's Romance - he's a monster, a beautiful, big, genuine horse. "He's coming into the race strong after his Royal Ascot win. "His confidence will be very high." Former jockey Seb Sanders agreed that Rebel's Romance was 'overlooked' in the market. Fallon added: "Jan Brueghel is tough but I think Rebel's Romance, if he turns up, is going to be a hard horse to beat. "He looks amazing, is lightly raced and is doing everything right at home. "After his last run he will only improve, he didn't have a hard race and it was a confidence booster for him." FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Daily Mirror
9 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
William Buick picks up vacant mount on star miler Field Of Gold at Goodwood
The Godolphin jockey will take over from Juddmonte' s retained rider Colin Keane who will miss the Sussex Stakes due to a whip suspension William Buick has picked up the vacant mount on star miler Field Of Gold in next week's Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The Godolphin jockey had been "on the list" of potential replacements since Juddmonte's retained rider Colin Keane was ruled out by a whip suspension. Narrowly beaten in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when partnered by Kieran Shoemark, John and Thady Gosden's three-year-old has made no mistake in two subsequent starts under Keane, emulating his sire Kingman with brilliant victories in both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Barry Mahon, Juddmonte's European racing manager, told the PA news agency: 'I think John and Thady were to talk to William yesterday to confirm his availability and it sounds like they've done that and he's free to ride him, so I'd say that's the plan. 'In fairness, until you get to within a week of the event you don't know what other trainers and jockeys are doing, but obviously William has been able to commit now which is good. 'He's a top-class rider and rode a Group One winner for us last October on board Kalpana, so it's good to have him on board.' Field Of Gold is set to head a quality Juddmonte team bound for the Sussex Downs, with fellow three-year-olds Cosmic Year and Jonquil also poised for action. The Harry Charlton-trained Cosmic Year was second to Field Of Gold in the Irish 2,000 Guineas before failing to fire in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville, while Andrew Balding's Greenham Stakes winner and French Guineas runner-up Jonquil will step back up in trip after finding the six furlongs of the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot too sharp. Field Of Gold's Lockinge-winning stablemate Lead Artist meanwhile holds a Sussex Stakes entry, but appears unlikely to be on the Goodwood squad. 'I'd say Cosmic Year will run in the Thoroughbred Stakes, the Group Three over a mile, at the minute that's the plan,' Mahon added. 'Jonquil worked nicely this morning and he's a probable to run in the Lennox over seven (furlongs). 'Lead Artist is in the Sussex, but I'd say he's more likely to wait. He won't run against Field Of Gold I'd imagine, so I'm not sure what the plans are for him at this stage.'
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
William Buick booked for Field Of Gold at Goodwood
With Keane currently serving a suspension after contravening the whip rules, connections needed to secure a new pilot for Field Of Gold's next appearance – and having revealed Buick was 'on the list' of potential riders two weeks ago, he has now been confirmed for the high-profile mount. Barry Mahon, Juddmonte's European racing manager, told the PA news agency: 'I think John and Thady were to talk to William yesterday to confirm his availability and it sounds like they've done that and he's free to ride him, so I'd say that's the plan. 'In fairness, until you get to within a week of the event you don't know what other trainers and jockeys are doing, but obviously William has been able to commit now which is good. 'He's a top-class rider and rode a Group One winner for us last October on board Kalpana, so it's good to have him on board.'
