A select field of just six will face the starter at 4.25 for tomorrow's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes - this evening it was announced that John Gosden's mare Dar Re Mi, owned by Lord Lloyd Weber, will miss the race on account of a bruised foot. The three-year-olds, the 'classic generation', have a good record in this which augurs well for impressive Derby winner Workforce as well as Cape Blanco; the favourite has collected the spoils on eight occasions in the last ten years. In today's Times Alan Lee reports trainer Sir Michael Stoute warning that the biggest threat to the market leader may come from within his own stable - Harbinger has progressed very well since his win in the Hardwicke Stakes five weeks ago. The stable's other runner, Confront, has been allocated pacemakng duties and for that reason is quoted at 250/1. It is not surprising stable jock Ryan Moore elected to stick with the horse that won Epsom's showpiece. The lead story in today's Racing Post informed us the layers were out to 'get' Workforce - he's best-priced 11/10 with William Hill and Coral this evening. Workforce is my idea of the winner in a race that doesn't really make that much appeal as a betting medium. In search of a bit of value, I'm going to take an each-way interest in Daryakana at 16/1. The last filly to win this was Time Charter in 1983 - having said that, Alain de Royer-Dupre's charge prefers racing right-handed, beat the colts in the Hong Kong Vase last December and has been trained specifically for this race since.
Up at York the bare eight go to post for the Sky Bet York Stakes at 3.05 - this evening several bookmakers go 4/1 the field. On official ratings Monitor Closely is the best horse in the race; Michael Bell's colt hasn't been seen out since last September when he finished third in the St Leger behind Mastery. He may just need the run while the step back in trip doesn't look in his favour. John Gosden's Debussy is likely to appreciate cut in the ground while the two Godolphin runners are of some interest. Balius is the higher rated of the two but is making his seasonal debut; Allybar finished third behind Gloria De Campeao on his penultimate run in the Dubai World Cup. That race took place on sand and looks good form - I fancied him at a price for the Prince Of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot the next time provided, of course, he could transfer that form to the turf. In the event, he ruined his chance by pulling too hard in the early stages so I'd be willing to forgive but I'm not convinced he'll handle easier conditions here. Debussy ran creditably at an even bigger price in that same Ascot race, fading inside the final furlong to finish seventh, beaten under four and a half lengths. 4/1 Debussy is the bet.
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Workforce may have won the Derby in course record time seven weeks ago but his stablemate Harbinger (4/1) showed he could pull off a similar stunt by winning this Group One event by an incredible eleven lengths, jockey Olivier Peslier riding hands 'n' heels to the line. Those who took short odds on the Derby winner (8/11f) knew their fate soon enough as coming to the home turn Ryan Moore was hard at work trying to get his mount ahead of Cape Blanco with Harbinger waiting quietly in the wings. I must admit I was slightly disapointed by Daryakana's effort; the 14/1 shot came home fourth, beaten a neck by Youmzain in third - I certainly expected her to reverse Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud placings with Youmzain. In the preliminaries Willie Carson asked the jockey whether he had doubts about the filly, being by miler Selkirk, would have stamina issues over this stiff course. The jock gave a cagey answer but I thought she saw the trip out well enough - she just wasn't good enough. Neither was Workforce on the day - was his Derby victory just a brilliant one off or should we forgive this effort? Whatever your opinion, the line that the ground was too firm didn't quite ring true given the colt's exploits at Epsom.
The predicted easy going at York never materialised; it rode fast enough. Debussy (3/1f), racing up with the pace, was given every chance by William Buick up the long home straight but John Gosden's charge couldn't quicken and in the end was beaten into fourth. Fallon took the spoils on 8/1 chance Summit Surge.
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