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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Chris Wright

Horse Power: Summer of Love can continue in King George at Ascot

The summer of LOVE can continue with victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (British Champions Series) (3.35pm) at Ascot on Saturday afternoon.

Aidan O’Brien’s super filly can repel the boys and the Classic generation to land another Group One success at the Berkshire venue.

The daughter of the late supersire Galileo has been peerless for the past two seasons, having been a Group One winner as a juvenile.

Love became a dual Classic heroine in fine style last year, romping to a four-and-a-half-length success in the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket before scoring by twice that margin stepped up to 1m4f in the Oaks at Epsom.

She readily made it three Group One successes in a row when comfortably landing the Yorkshire Oaks on the Knavesmire last August.

For various reasons she couldn’t run in the big middle distance contests – including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the autumn and only made a belated return to action at Royal Ascot last month.

But it was worth the wait. Despite not being as flamboyant a victory as her Classic successes, the battling three-quarter-length win over Breeders’ Cup heroine Audarya in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at the Royal meeting was arguably just as good.

Following such a lengthy lay-off and dropping back to 1m2f Love showed she is one – if not the best – middle distance performers in training.

She is sure to come on for that run and back up to 1m4f on a track she has obviously won at, Love can add another Group One victory en route to more glory, possibly at York, Leopardstown and ParisLongchamp over the next few months.

She will face another impressive Classic winner in Charlie Appleby’s Cazoo Derby hero Adayar, who gets a weight for age allowance.

But no Derby winner has doubled-up in the King George since the great Galileo in 2000, showing how tough it can be mixing it with the star older horses.

Adayar certainly has the ability to change that stat, while another Royal Ascot winner Wonderful Tonight adds spice to the summer middle distance championship.

But they may all have to play second fiddle as it must be Love coming out on top to start another massive week of racing action with the five-day Glorious Goodwood coming up.

MOTAKHAYYEL won over course and distance in the Buckingham Palace Handicap at last year’s Royal meeting and can go in again in the Moet & Chandon International Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (3pm).

Richard Hannon’s five-year-old remains in fine form, having made the ultra-competitive Bunbury Cup at Newmarket last time look easy as he scored by three-and-a-half lengths.

He is up 3lb and carries top weight but that may not stop him as he thrives in these big-field seven-furlong handicaps.

Fellow Shadwell Estate-owned Danyah – from the opposite side of the draw – may be the chief danger.

MR MCCANN can give some Liverpool FC stars another victory in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes (1.15pm).

The Tom Dascombe-trained two-year-old is owned by the AJT Group which consists of Liverpool players Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andy Robertson and former Red Adam Lallana and is named after the club’s press officer Matt McCann.

The Kodiac colt has progressed well this season, winning in good style at Lingfield and Haydock Park.

He wasn’t disgraced when fourth stepped up into Group Two company for the first time in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month. Back down to Listed level he can resume winning ways.

Archie Watson’s NAZANIN can make it two wins from two starts, under Hollie Doyle, in the Group Three Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes (1.50pm).

The Declaration Of War filly won well on her debut at Newbury and can continue her progress with another victory stepped up to Group level.

John and Thady Gosden's GURU can make it third time lucky this season with victory in the Porsche Handicap (2.25pm). having been second over course and distance earlier this month.

Others who can win at Ascot are David O’Meara’s DOCTOR PARNASSUS in the Sebastian’s Action Trust Handicap (4.10pm) and the George Margarson-trained SPIRITED GUEST in the finale, the Longines Handicap (For Female Amateur Jockeys) (4.45pm).

At York several horses with good course form look to hold a big chance in the Sky Bet Dash Handicap (2.40pm) but GOLDEN APOLLO may just come out on top ahead of Gulliver, last year’s winner Muscika and stable-mate Music Society.

The Tim Easterby-trained Golden Apollo has been second in this race twice before and is 3lbs lower than last year’s effort.

He has hinted at a return to winning ways on his last two starts finishing third at Thirsk and second at Pontefract.

The seven-year-old can get his head back in front.

MOHAAFETH is unbeaten in four starts this season, including at Royal Ascot last time, and Willie Haggas’ rising three-year-old can get the better of O’Brien’s Armory – from whom he gets a massive 12lbs in the weight for age allowance – in the Group Two Sky Bet York Stakes (3.15pm).

Others who can score on the Knavesmire are O’Meara’s SOUL SEEKER in the Sky Bet “Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe” Handicap (To Be Ridden By Professional Jump Jockeys) (2.05pm) and the Richard Fahey-trained TOMBOLO – to be ridden by Warrington jockey Paul Hanagan – in the in the Sky Bet Request A Bet Handicap (5pm).

At Newmarket Cheshire-based trainer Dascombe can win the MansionBet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap (4.50pm) and the MansionBet Beaten By A Head Handicap (5.20pm) with two recent Chester scorers FOOLS RUSH IN and LINCOLN PARK respectively.

Others who may score at Headquarters are Martyn Meade’s GLOUCESTERSHIRE in the in the MansionBet Bet 10 Get 20 Handicap (3.40pm) and the Mark Johnston-trained CUBAN DANCER in the finale, the MansionBet At Newmarket Handicap (6.25pm).