Australia’s Royal Ascot heroine Asfoora will face 12 rivals, including Big Evs, in today’s Group 1 King George Qatar Stakes (3.35) at Glorious Goodwood.
She fended off Regional to win by a length on just her second start in Britain for Henry Dwyer and will bid to become the first horse since Battaash in 2020 to complete the Royal Ascot-Goodwood double.
Among the opposition is Breeders’ Cup ace Big Evs, who was a length and a half behind Asfoora last month. He won the Molecomb over this course and distance 12 months ago.
The George Boughey-trained Believing was a place behind Big Evs but has been kept busy since, finishing fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes before winning at the Curragh just a fortnight ago.
Jasour drops to five furlongs for the first time since breaking his maiden at Nottingham last June for Clive Cox. He was sixth in the July Cup last time and is joined by stablemate Kerdos, who was fifth in this race last year.
Makarova was a place ahead and represents Ed Walker and Hector Crouch while Nunthorpe winner Live In The Dream is another high-profile contender for Adam West.
The Ralph Beckett-trained Starlust is also stepped up in grade having won the City Walls Stakes impressively last time. He beat Rogue Lightning who will reoppose for Wathnan Racing.
The Czech Republic-based Ponntos returns having finished sixth last year but arrives in excellent form off the back of victory in his last three starts. The field is completed by the Irish-trained pair Moss Tucker and Sturlasson, for Ken Condon and Kieran Cotter respectively, while Desperate Hero runs for Jack Channon.
David O’Meara will field eight of the 22 runners in the Coral Golden Mile (3.00) while Karl Burke has declared topweight and favourite Holloway Boy. Galen, the ante-post favourite for the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (2.25), was not declared for the Group 3. Lead Artist and Al Musmak are among the main chances.
Willie Mullins did not declare the 6-1 leading fancy Scaramanga for the Coral Goodwood Handicap (1.50).
King George Qatar Stakes confirmed runners and riders
Kerdos – Richard Kingscote
Ponntos – Sabina Mokrosova
Asfoora – Oisin Murphy
Believing – Billy Loughnane
Desperate Hero – David Probert
Live In The Dream – Jason Hart
Moss Tucker – Billy Lee
Rogue Lightning – James Doyle
Big Evs – Tom Marquand
Jasour – Doubtful
Makarova – Hector Crouch
Starlust – Rossa Ryan
Sturlasson – Dylan Browne McMonagle
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