Order Of St George to reclaim Ascot Gold Cup

The firepower at Aidan O’Brien’s disposal often glosses over his ability to keep horses at the peak of their ability time and again.

It is especially difficult to keep stayers coming back for more. Simplistically, they are harder to train because they are more prone to injury, simply because they are running over longer distances. You are doubling the risk, so keeping them sound takes patience and nous.

So while O’Brien and his team at Ballydoyle often frequent the winners’ enclosure on the big days – sometimes filling all three spots as they did in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase on Wednesday with Kew Gardens, Southern France and Nelson – it cannot be overstated what a remarkable job they have done with stayers over the years.

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The nature of breeding has changed over the last 30 years – horses are bred for speed rather than stamina. While there are more opportunities for stayers on the track than there were 15 years ago, those who ply their trade in the rarefied air at the top end of the bloodstock market know that stallion coverings command astronomically lesser fees than those who win over middle-distance or sprint trips.

Therefore, you can be forgiven for thinking that the 2m4f Ascot Gold Cup is merely a badge of honour for the Coolmore bloodstock operation.

Yet O’Brien has saddled the winner no fewer than seven times in the last 12 years, the first four with the mighty Years, who scored on four consecutive occasions between 2006 and 2009.

Fame And Glory (2011), Leading Light (2014) and Order Of St George (2016) continue to underline 48-year-old O’Brien’s brilliance with stayers.

Had it not been for a short-head defeat by Big Orange in last year’s renewal, Order Of St George (4.20) would be seeking a third successive Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup on Thursday.

Jockey Ryan Moore, who was criticised for giving the son of Galileo far too much to do last year when going down by the shortest of short-heads, will be keen to make amends.

Order Of St George has suffered one defeat in six subsequent starts, when fifth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last October, having dropped back to 1m4f. He signed off last season with victory in the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot and showed his well-being with a comfortable Listed race success at Leopardstown last month. O’Brien says he the six-year-old is better than ever, and who are we to disagree?

With Big Orange sidelined, the selection’s biggest rival would appear to be Stradivarius, who was a length behind Order Of St George here in October and who landed the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup last month. Given the form of the John Gosden team at present, and with Frankie Dettori oozing with confidence following three victories on day one, you cannot discount the four-year-old lightly.

In what looks a decent renewal, French challenger Vazirabad is also no back number, already proven over this far when taking the Group 1 Prix de Cadran at Chantilly last September, while Sagaro Stakes winner Torcedor will also have his supporters.

Punters can get off to a flyer with KONCHEK (2.30 NAP), who gets a confident vote for the 5f Norfolk Stakes. Clive Cox’s representative was an impressive winner of a Newmarket maiden, despite showing signs of inexperience coming down the hill, and was a shade unlucky in running when a fast-finishing, close-up third at Sandown last time. This track is sure to suit the Lethal Force colt.

Key Victory (3.05) looked a smart colt when scoring in Listed company on his seasonal debut at Newmarket, despite not getting a clear run and showing his inexperience. Upped in class for the French Derby next time, he finished a creditable eighth, and while he has a little to find with sixth-placed Hunting Horn, the race was a messy one and produced a bunched finish. The pair should fight out the finish to the Group 3 Hampton Court stakes.

Oaks also-rans often have found success in the Ribblesdale Stakes and Wild Illusion (3.40), who was fourth in the 1,000 Guineas and second at Epsom, might gain a deserved success for trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick.

However, there has been significant support in recent days for Sir Michael Stoute’s runaway Salisbury maiden winner Sun Maiden, which can’t be ignored.

The Britannia Handicap is an awfully difficult puzzle to solve with 30 runners spread across the track for the straight mile cavalry charge. Lethal Steps (5.00) was a fair fifth to Hazapour in the Leopardstown Derby Trial and drops back in trip for his first run since joining Andrew Balding. He is a massive 40/1 with Genting Bet and may have got in here lightly off a mark of 102. The William Haggas-trained Completion, touched off in Haydock’s Silver Bowl last time, would also hold a chance and is currently around 16/1.

The finale is the 1m4f King George V Handicap which comprises 19 runners. Mark Johnston’s string remains in top form and he saddles five runners, with Newbury scorer Communique (5.35) going up in trip and expected to improve for it.

Thursday’s Selections:

ROYAL ASCOT: 2.30 KONCHEK (NAP), 3.05 Key Victory, 3.40 Wild Illusion, 4.10 Order Of St George, 5.00 Lethal Steps, 5.35 Communique

CHELMSFORD (AW): 1.45 Be Proud, 2.30 It’safreebee, 2.55 Isomer, 3.30 Alfarris, 4.05 Alcina, 4.45 Rude Awakening (nb), 5.20 Rock On Baileys

RIPON: 2.10 Semoum, 2.45 Longroom, 3.20 Emerald Rocket, 3.55 Daira Prince, 4.35 Graceful Art, 5.10 Gabrial’s Kaka, 5.40 Blue Havana

LINGFIELD (AW): 5.50 Toolatetodelegate, 6.20 Big Time Maybe, 6.50 Disruptor, 7.25 Peggie Sue, 7.55 Peace Terms, 8.25 Watch Tan, 8.55 Fresh Terms

FFOS LAS: 6.10 Comanche Chieftain, 6.40 Chateau Robin, 7.15 As You Like, 7.45 The Bottom Bar, 8.15 Lady Markby, 8.45 St John’s, 9.15 Marju’s Quest

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