Emily Upjohn Clashes With Westover in King George

History tells you it takes a 3-year-old of rare constitution and quality to run in the Derby (G1) and Irish Derby (G1) before tackling the older generation in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (G1). 

Only truly exceptional talents—Troy and Shergar in 1979 and 1981, followed by Generous a decade later and Galileo in 2001—have been able to complete the hat-trick, but Westover  would still be in rarefied company if he could add victory in Ascot's glittering summer jewel to two strong Classic performances.

Having followed up his Cazoo Derby In Memory of Lester Piggott third with victory in Ireland, the son of Frankel  arrives with the same profile as the John Oxx-trained Alamshar did in 2003. Since then, none of the six colts that ran at Epsom (or in the French Derby the same weekend) and took in another race anywhere in between, have managed to get the job done at Ascot.

In powering away from his rivals under Colin Keane in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, Westover looked like he had the physique to take in three tough tests in the space of 50 days, and trainer Ralph Beckett has been pleased with what he's seen in the four weeks since.

"Westover is in good form and has trained well since the Curragh," said Beckett. "He had an awayday at Kempton and that went well so we're all set and looking forward to the challenge."

Mishriff and Emily Upjohn Add Further Depth to Elite Line-up

John Gosden has done more than most to keep the King George at the forefront of the flat season, having run the majority of his top middle-distance horses at Ascot and landing the prize five times in the last 11 years.

With Taghrooda and Enable accounting for four of those successes it might make sense to start with Emily Upjohn , who was arguably unlucky not to reel in Tuesday in the Cazoo Oaks (G1). She has also had to wait for her next target after issues with her air transport to the Curragh ruled her out of the Juddmonte Irish Oaks (G1) last week.

The market marginally favors Emily Upjohn over her stablemate Mishriff  and Gosden was quick to point to the fact she will carry only 8st 9lb.

"This race is obviously plan B for Emily Upjohn who we had hoped to run in the Irish Oaks last week but due to logistical problems we were unable to get there," said Gosden.

"She's been freshened up since the Oaks and obviously gets a good pull in the weights from her elders. She gets a stone from the older horses and three pounds from the Irish Derby winner so hopefully can run a nice race."

James Doyle gets a first crack aboard the globetrotting Mishriff, whose limited tries at a mile and a half comprises victory over crack Japanese opposition in the shape of Chrono Genesis  and Loves Only You  and a fine second to Adayar  in this race 12 months ago.

"Mishriff ran a great race in the Coral Eclipse Stakes (G1) to be second and we're taking the same route as we did last year and coming here," said Gosden. "Obviously this is a step up in trip in an elite race with Arc winners, Irish Derby winners, and Juddmonte winners in there."

The winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes will earn an automatic berth into this year’s $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In. 

The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland.