Saturday's King George at Ascot (4.25) promises to be a cracker with Derby winner and Workforce, a general even money favourite, taking on older horses for the first time.
Sir Michael Stoute's colt has not seen a racetrack since that memorable day at Epsom, yet the Derby form knockers have been out in force and there won't be a shortage of punters willing to take him on this weekend. Granted, those who finished behind him have failed to advertise the form since, but what did we expect? The runner-up At First Sight must rank as one of the worst to fill that spot in many years, while neither Jan Vermeer and Midas Touch, fourth and fifth respectively, would have been Aidan O'Brien's No.1 Derby hope at the start of the season; that honour going to Epsom absentee St Nicholas Abbey.
And let's not forget, Workforce didn't just beat his rivals, he absolutely murdered them and in a course record time. Clearly, there were two Derbys run this year - the one that Workforce won and the one contested by everything else. The first looks considerably better than the second and with few miles on the clock, who's to say he won't improve again? Recent gallop reports suggest he has and the 12lb weight-for-age allowance he gets will, I suspect, give him a decisive edge over his older rivals, including stablemate Harbinger (11/4 Totesport).
The latter looked a horse out of the top drawer when winning the Hardwicke Stakes last time out and the form has subsequently been boosted by the placed horses. However, that race is rarely influential on this contest and only Doyen in 2004 has completed the double in the last three decades. Stats are there to be broken of course and he's no doubt still improving - he's certainly with the right trainer in that respect - but this is a big ask on his first assignment at Group 1 level and I just don't think he can give 12lb to the Derby winner and beat him.
Kieren Fallon is sounding quite bullish about his ride Cape Blanco (13/2 William Hill) but I can't share his confidence. OK, the O'Brien horse had three and a half lengths to spare over Workforce in the Dante but there were excuses for the runner-up. For one, he hated the lightning quick ground, which he won't encounter at Ascot, while Ryan Moore had a job steering him due to the bit slipping through his mouth. Furthermore, taking a line through Midas Touch, who was beaten 11 lengths at Epsom and only a length by Cape Blanco in the Irish Derby, Workforce comes out easily on top.
As for Youmzain (14/1 Ladbrokes), he can't possibly win - can he? When he consents to put his best foot forward, the seven-year-old is high class and has been placed twice in the King George but seems to have forgotten how to win. His best efforts are usually reserved for the Arc in which he has finished runner-up in the last three renewals and Paris in the autumn may again be the best time to back him - each-way of course.
This trip is far more suitable for Dar Re Mi (16/1 Stan James) than the 1m2f she ran over last time in the Eclipse. As that was her first run since Dubai, she should also strip a lot fitter this time and is reported to be back to her best by trainer John Gosden. And her best is very good indeed as we saw in last season's Arc (fifth) and when notching back-to-back Group 1 wins last summer. Those victories were against her own sex, though, and she would be the first female winner since Time Charter in 1983.
The other filly in the field is Daryakana (16/1 bet365) and as she has already beaten the colts over this trip in the Hong Kong Vase last December, she can't be dismissed lightly. After a couple of warm-up efforts in France, she should be cherry ripe for this and if there were more than seven runners I'd have no hesitation in putting her up as an each-way tip. Still, she might be worth a small win saver just in case Workforce doesn't run up to his best.
Recommended Bets:
Workforce 5pts @ best morning-line price
Daryakana 0.5pt @ 16/1 best morning-line price
