Current Arc favorite Workforce to run in the King George this week
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Moderator
from Racing Post:
INVESTEC Derby winner Workforce will miss the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby next weekend, with connections confirming the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 24 as his next target.
Grimthorpe said: "Workforce will go straight to the King George. The thinking is he had a tough enough race in the Derby and the Irish Derbyjust comes a little bit too soon.
"He's a big, scopey horse and we want to give him that bit more time for the King George. He's in good form, the Arc will be the objective after that and we'll have to see how he gets on there."
William Hill reacted to the news by making Workforce their 11-10 market leader. Others to feature in the betting are Sariska at 11-2, Dar Re Mi at 13-2 and Age of Aquarius at 11-1.
Charles Barnett, Ascot chief executive, was understandably delighted with the prospect of the Derby winner taking part in the £1 million King George.
Barnett said: "It's fantastic news and hopefully Workforce can emulate Lammtarra, who came here from the Derby and went on to win the Arc. Sir Michael Stoute has always beena very good supporter of the race, not least, of course, last year when he had the first, second and third.
"To have Workforce coming to Ascot is very good for the King George, but I don't accept the view that the race has been in decline. It has remained one of the world's top three or four races.
"We have had unbelievably good renewals in recent years and the emphasis on older horses has been in part because more four-year-olds have been kept in training.
"However, it's nice that the best of the three-year-olds will once again be taking on the best of the older horses in the King George."
INVESTEC Derby winner Workforce will miss the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby next weekend, with connections confirming the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 24 as his next target.
Grimthorpe said: "Workforce will go straight to the King George. The thinking is he had a tough enough race in the Derby and the Irish Derbyjust comes a little bit too soon.
"He's a big, scopey horse and we want to give him that bit more time for the King George. He's in good form, the Arc will be the objective after that and we'll have to see how he gets on there."
William Hill reacted to the news by making Workforce their 11-10 market leader. Others to feature in the betting are Sariska at 11-2, Dar Re Mi at 13-2 and Age of Aquarius at 11-1.
Charles Barnett, Ascot chief executive, was understandably delighted with the prospect of the Derby winner taking part in the £1 million King George.
Barnett said: "It's fantastic news and hopefully Workforce can emulate Lammtarra, who came here from the Derby and went on to win the Arc. Sir Michael Stoute has always beena very good supporter of the race, not least, of course, last year when he had the first, second and third.
"To have Workforce coming to Ascot is very good for the King George, but I don't accept the view that the race has been in decline. It has remained one of the world's top three or four races.
"We have had unbelievably good renewals in recent years and the emphasis on older horses has been in part because more four-year-olds have been kept in training.
"However, it's nice that the best of the three-year-olds will once again be taking on the best of the older horses in the King George."