In-form Godolphin look all set for a triple raid on King George
Doyen, Sulamani and Papineau have all been pencilled in for Ascot's midsummer showpiece on July 24 as Godolphin look to follow up Saturday's Coral-Eclipse Stakes triumph with Refuse To Bend.
Sulamani, runner-up to Alamshar in the King George 12 months ago, is set to have a prep race in the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday.
"He was disappointing at Royal Ascot when fourth to Rakti, but we probably felt that on that occasion the pace was not really strong enough and maybe ground was too lively. He is in good order," Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford told At The Races yesterday
"He's a King George horse and it's a good idea to get a run under his belt right now, but if the ground gets very quick at Newmarket - and it can dry out very quickly then we would reconsider our plans. But at the moment he's an intended runner."
Doyen showed he was a top-notch performer with an emphatic victory in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting. Crisford said: "Doyen goes on any type of ground. As a three-year-old, he won very well on soft and fast ground. He's a very versatile colt and obviously a mile and a half suits him well. He's bang on target for the King George. He's a really exciting prospect as everybody knows.
"Papineau would not be well handicapped for a race like the Melbourne Cup so before then he's also in the King George as a possible runner there.
"He will be equally effective over a mile and a half as he is over longer distances, so we are not going to decide on anything like the Melbourne Cup until later on in the season. He wouldn't be a well-handicapped horse."
