George tops star studded QEII line–up
A stellar line-up is on the cards for the mile feature, with last year’s winner again set to clash with his Prix du Moulin conqueror Darjina, who has been supplemented as expected.
Godolphin’s Ramonti could also renew rivalry with the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained filly, who counts the French 1000 Guineas and Prix d’Astarte among her other big-race victories.
George Washington could be joined by stablemates Astronomer Royal, winner of the French 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes victor Excellent Art, Duke Of Marmalade and Archipenko.
Godolphin also have Caradak and Blue Ksar, while owners Cheveley Park Stud could be double-handed with the James Fanshawe-trained Cesare and John Gosden’s Nannina.
Dunelight, Jeremy, Stormy River and Vital Equine complete the contenders.
Frankie Dettori is in confident mood ahead of Ramonti’s bid for glory. Godolphin’s five-year-old has proved something of a flagbearer for the boys in blue this term, striking gold in both the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
He was outpointed by Darjina in the Prix du Moulin last time, but Dettori feels his big-race partner will be better suited by conditions on Saturday and hopes the pair can gain revenge on Alain de Royer-Dupre’s charge, who was supplemented for the big race today.
Dettori said: “Ramonti is very well and you could set a clock by him.
“He’s very consistent and has won two Group Ones and has two seconds in Group Ones (this season).
“There’s going to be George Washington, the good filly (Darjina) and Excellent Art in there, but you know he’s going to run a big race and I’m looking forward to riding him on Saturday.
“I think the race should be made for him at Ascot with its nice stiff mile. Longchamp has a very quick straight and I was a bit vulnerable to the filly’s turn of foot last time.
“But it’ll be a different ball game at Ascot as it’s a bit more of a true mile,” he told Racing UK.
The Eoghan O’Neill-trained Vital Equine is expected to make his first start in 126 days. After chasing home Cockney Rebel in the 2000 Guineas in May, the Danetime colt finished sixth in the Irish equivalent before purposefully being given a break.
“His preparation has been nice and smooth and we’ve had no hold-ups with him,” explained O’Neill, who plans to take the wraps off his charge providing the ground is not riding too fast.
“He’ll do his last bit of work in the morning and then we’ll see how the ground is for Saturday. The plan is to run there.”
