LONDON // Ahmed Ajtebi will ride Godolphin's Genius Beast in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday following yesterday's penultimate declaration stage.
Ajtebi, who has ridden the colt to both of his career victories, missed out on the ride in the Prix Hocquart at Longchamp, France, in May when Frankie Dettori partnered the colt to third place.
Ajtebi rode Genius Beast to success in the Classic Trial at Sandown in April and the 2,400 metres of the King Edward, known as the Ascot Derby, is sure to suit the son of Kingmambo.
"Genius Beast is our best chance on Friday," Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said.
"He ran well in his prep race in France.
"He missed the Derby to race in this and he prefers to get his toe in a bit. Ahmed will ride."
Genius Beast was declared alongside 18 others including Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed's Dordogne and Namibian, both trained by Mark Johnston, who also has Eternal Heart and Hurricane Higgins in the race.
World Domination, owned by Prince Khalid Abdulla of Saudi Arabia, also makes the line-up and passed a final gallops test yesterday morning.
"World Domination is fine," said Teddy Grimthorpe, the racing manager to the prince.
"All the serious work had been done already, it was just a case of having a blow out, but he went very nicely."
The declarations to the Group 1 Coronation Stakes were also made, with Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's Maqaasid leading 13 other rivals, including Princess Haya of Jordan's Joviality and Saeed Manana's Elshabakiya.
