London// Two of the three UAE-owned representatives in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will appreciate the heavy rain that has been forecast for Ascot in the lead-up to Saturday’s British mid-summer showpiece.
The Corsican, owned by Dubai-based businessman Jim Hay, and Godolphin’s Romsdal were among the nine horses declared on Thursday alongside the unbeaten English Derby and Eclipse Stakes winner Golden Horn.
Both horses have smart form on rain-softened ground, while Postponed, owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, has yet to encounter anything softer than good ground in his 11 starts.
Postponed will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni, after Sheikh Mohammed Obaid took the decision to replace his retained rider Adam Kirby following the run in to third place behind Saturday’s rival Snow Sky at Royal Ascot last month. Jim Crowley will ride The Corsican, while William Buick partners Romsdal.
Postponed has been targeted at the Group 1 middle-distance event since he beat Snow Sky at York last year, and although he was almost four lengths adrift of Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia’s horse in the Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot, trainer Luca Cumani is hopeful things can be different this time.
“He has been working very well and looks great,” Cumani said.
“The Hardwicke was not a very satisfactory race. The winner had it his own way in front and set a slow fraction.
“I’m not saying we are going to beat Snow Sky but I do think we could see a different result.”
Heavy rain is forecast for the Ascot area from 10am UAE time on Friday right through to the early hours of Saturday morning. The going at Ascot is currently good to firm, good in places, but up to 10mm of rain would result in the ground riding easy.
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