King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes

[SniperSB23]

So where is Soldier of Fortune going now? Good thing I added him in the Road to the Breeders Cup for this race.

[my miss storm cat]

All I know is he's entered for both the Juddmonte International in August and the Irish Champion in September....

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

All I know is he's entered for both the Juddmonte International in August and the Irish Champion in September....

Cool, thanks. At least the Juddmonte International is a contest race, as is the Arc.

[NoChanceToDance]

The ballydoyle camp have so many top class horses that are suited by similar races, it is becoming difficult pick a route for them through the year. He doesn't like running the good older horses against each other, but in the major races in the autumn, he might have to. I imagine Soldier Of Fortune's main aim this year is the Arc, I'm not convinced the drop back to ten furlongs in the Juddmonte would suit him. Maybe he will run in something like the Prix Foy before the Arc.

Back to the King George, again it's not a great race for something which used to be so prestigious a feew years ago. Unless the Duke and Youmzain under perform by a good few pounds, one of those will win.

Literato isn't the same horse he was, and I think this trip plays to his strengths.

Papal Bull is a nightmare of a horse to work out, but even on his best form it leaves him with a bit to find.

Ask will win a Gr1 at twelve furlongs before too long, but the drying ground is against him and connections are probably already thinking of a nice autumn campaign for him. He could be the one to take advantage if the main two underperform.

Happy Boy just isn't good enough to cope with this grade.

Lucarno got a terrific ride to win last time, but the same tactics will be harder to do here, and needs to improve a bit.

[brockguy]

i have a feeling they will try to win a top class 10f race for Soldier Of Fortune's CV.. I still think of him as rather "slow", a very good horse but someone who takes a while to get going and would struggle in a genuine G1 10f race..

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by brockguy

i have a feeling they will try to win a top class 10f race for Soldier Of Fortune's CV.. I still think of him as rather "slow", a very good horse but someone who takes a while to get going and would struggle in a genuine G1 10f race..

I agree, there is no doubt that a Gr1 win over 10 would do wonders for his future, but like you, I don't think he has the tactical speed to cope with the drop in trip. If anything, he'd appreciate further.

[SniperSB23]

On June 10th Soldier of Fortune was favored for both this race and the Arc! Now he runs 2nd to Youmzain in France and he's not a horse that can win a G1? You guys are tough over there!

[jaripeo]

This is LITERATO analisis of his last race against a good field. Yea it was on 10 F, but......

"held up towards rear, smooth headway from over 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, joined leader inside final furlong, led and asserted towards finish opened 4/1"

It sounds like he had +++gas in the tank.

I know the DUKE and YOUMZAIN are very good horses and O´Brein will send a rabitt, but I still thinking that PAPAL with his temperament may do a good race and LITERATO will fight till the end with him.

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by jaripeo

This is LITERATO analisis of his last race against a good field. Yea it was on 10 F, but......

"held up towards rear, smooth headway from over 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, joined leader inside final furlong, led and asserted towards finish opened 4/1"

It sounds like he had +++gas in the tank.

I know the DUKE and YOUMZAIN are very good horses and O´Brein will send a rabitt, but I still thinking that PAPAL with his temperament may do a good race and LITERATO will fight till the end with him.

But Literato has been pretty dreadful since joining Godolphin. He will probably need lots of rain to even give him a run at the weekend.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by jaripeo

This is LITERATO analisis of his last race against a good field. Yea it was on 10 F, but......

"held up towards rear, smooth headway from over 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, joined leader inside final furlong, led and asserted towards finish opened 4/1"

It sounds like he had +++gas in the tank.

I know the DUKE and YOUMZAIN are very good horses and O´Brein will send a rabitt, but I still thinking that PAPAL with his temperament may do a good race and LITERATO will fight till the end with him.

There's a chance he goes to the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen the following day instead...

[NoChanceToDance]

Ask has been drifting all day, while Papal Bull has been getting backed. This sort of move would suggest that either Ask isn't going to run, or that Papal Bull is going to be the stable first string.