David Morgan
Some of the fastest horses Europe has ever produced have scorched Goodwood’s downhill run in G2 King George Stakes and while there doesn’t look to be a Lochsong or a Battaash in this year’s line-up, there is an Australian raider with a point to prove.
Asfoora nailed Royal Ascot success last year in the G1 King Charles III Stakes but failed by a short head to go on and win this prize. Now, after running only fifth in the King Charles III in June, trainer Henry Dwyer sends her to the downland track again, this time seeking compensation.
Another Australian mare, Ortensia, won this in 2012 and fillies and mares have taken the win 13 times in the last 33 years.
It looks to be an open contest, though, and among those Asfoora must face is the speedy three-year-old Big Mojo, owned and trained by the same connections behind Big Evs, the horse that beat her in this 12 months ago. Big Mojo was a close second over a furlong further in the G1 July Cup last time but took the G3 Molecomb Stakes a year ago at the course and distance. Three-year-olds have eight wins since 1993, but in the 32 years before that they won 18 times.
Big Evs had an official rating of 113 going into last year’s King George; Big Mojo already has a 115 rating after his July Cup run, a rise from 108. Asfoora is rated 114 this time, down from 115 a year ago, but she does not have to shoulder a 5lb penalty this time.
The field also features longshot G1 Royal Ascot winner Time For Sandals, whose jockey Richard Kingscote pulled off the biggest shock of the season on Wednesday with Qirat’s 150/1 win in the G1 Sussex Stakes. She must shoulder a Group 1 penalty.
NAP: R4 #10 Big Mojo
Andrew Hawkins
Opera Ballo has been on the Idol Horse radar ever since he bolted up on debut on the Kempton all-weather in January. Such was his dominance, he was immediately designated a Future Idol.
Four of his five starts, he has won impressively, including his last two starts in Listed mile races on turf.
The only blip on his record came when he overraced badly and weakened into sixth behind Field Of Gold in the G3 Craven Stakes – and, as Field Of Gold showed in his shock Sussex Stakes defeat on Wednesday, even the best of horses can have an off day.
The G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes has been a stepping stone for later maturers before: Cape Cross landed this race in 1997, while Baaeed is the most notable victor in recent years. Whether Opera Ballo is a Group 1 horse in the making will be answered by his performance at Goodwood.
Among those opposing is Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year as well as three horses who finished behind Opera Ballo in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes last time out – runner-up Seagulls Eleven, third King Of Cities and Opera Ballo’s stablemate, fourth-placed Spectacular View. ∎
NAP: R2 #4 Opera Ballo
