The month of July certainly delivers on the racing front. Newmarket’s excellent three-day July Festival may be in the books for another year, but Glorious Goodwood’s five-day feast looms large on the horizon, with the Sussex showpiece getting underway on Tuesday 30th of July.
Before all that, we have the Irish Oaks at the Curragh this coming Sunday, followed by the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, 27th July. Once one of the pre-eminent 1m4f events on the racing calendar, some argue that the £1.25m Group 1 event has lost a little lustre in recent years. However, if even half of the big names remaining among the 2024 entries go to post, we will be in for a cracking renewal. Here, we look at the superstars who may do battle on the famous Berkshire turf.
Team Ballydoyle
Successful with Galileo, Dylan Thomas, Duke of Marmalade, and Highland Reel, Aidan O’Brien will be bidding for a fifth win in the race as he chases down all-time leader Sir Michael Stoute. With the following contenders in the mix, it would take a brave man to bet against him.
- Auguste Rodin – Six-time Group 1 winner, including the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby, the Breeders’ Cup Turf, and the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. He bombed out in the 2023 edition of this but confirmed he handles the track at the Royal Meeting on his most recent start.
- City Of Troy – The current star of the three-year-old division, this year’s Derby hero bagged a third career Group 1 in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes. Many were unimpressed by that workmanlike effort, but, back up to the Derby trip, he looks a big threat if taking up this engagement.
- Luxembourg – Now five years old, Luxembourg has served Ballydoyle with distinction since making his debut in 2021. A four-time Group 1 winner, his most recent top-level success came in the Coronation Cup over this trip at Epsom.
- Los Angeles – This son of Camelot is the potential improver among the O’Brien entries. Only third at Epsom, he stepped up on that to land the Irish Derby last time and there may well be more to come.
Best of the Rest
- Rebels Romance – The sole Godolphin entry is this globe-trotting superstar. A Group 1 winner in Germany, Dubai, Hong Kong, and the USA, the son of Dubawi arrives seeking a four-timer as he bids to add Britain to that list.
- Bluestocking – Ralph Beckett’s filly came up just short in Group 1 company last term – finishing second in the Irish Oaks and the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes – but looks a much-improved performer this term and arrives on the back of a win in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes.
- Ambiente Friendly – James Fanshawe’s stable star travelled like the best horse in both the English and Irish Derby before ultimately settling for second and third in the two Classics. A drop back to 1m2f appeared likely, but a King George on quick ground may suit him well.
