Pixelate aims double with Pimlico, Colonial wins
DUBAI: Pixelate will aim for back-to-back turf Stakes wins over the coming days, with the mile G3 Baltimore/washington International Turf Cup at Pimlico on Saturday, one of two options for the consistent four-year-old.
The City Zip colt, an easy winner of the Prince George’s County Stakes at the same course in June, also holds an entry in the nine-furlong Buckland Stakes at Colonial Downs 48 hours later.
His trainer Mike Stidham said: “We are keeping an eye on the weather before deciding which race to go for with Pixelate. We are leaning towards the Buckland Stakes but don’t want it to come off the turf, which is why we have entered him at Pimlico as well.
“Pixelate has won over both distances but I like the mile and eighth a litle beter. He had been running hard this year without winning before the Prince George’s County Stakes and it was nice to get that victory into him.”
Meanwhile,home-bredadayareasilycompleted final preparations for an atempt to become the first Derby winner in 20 years to lit Ascot’s G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Breezing for William Buick at Moulton Paddocks early on Friday, the colt pleased Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby, who commented: “I couldn’t be happier with him. It was a straighforward final piece of work, and he will go there on Saturday with no excuses.”
Appleby is acutely aware of the challenge facing Adayar, who not only bids to become just the third three-year-old colt in two decades to win Saturday’s historic feature, but one trying to re-establish the reputation of three-year-olds in the race.
Three-year-olds receive 11lb from their older rivals in the first clash of the generations over 1m 4f at weight-for-age, but since Galileo triumphed in 2001, three Derby winners have subsequently tried and failed in the King George.
Kris Kin (2003) finished a respectable third, but Workforce (2010) fith, and Anthony Van Dyck (2019)10th, were both disappointing.
In the period 2002-20, a total of 23 threeyear-olds contested the Ascot feature for four wins — top colts Alamshar (2003) and Nathaniel (2011) were followed by the high class fillies Taghrooda (2014) and Enable (2017).
Adayar comes to Saturday’s King George off the back of an impressive win in last month’s Cazoo Derby at Epsom, in which he outstayed his rivals for a stunning four-and-a-half length victory.
“It was a very special moment,” Appleby reflected. “Another home-bred winning the Derby is a terrific achievement for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and his teams at Godolphin and Darley.
“It’s true that before Epsom, I thought he was shaping more as a G1 St Leger type. He’s so straighforward at home, he never stood out in his work. But, having said that, we always felt he was very good.
“On Derby Day, he showed us a turn-of-foot we hadn’t seen before, and he has sharpened up a lot for that experience,” the trainer added.
Adayar has certainly made rapid progress in the past three months. His Derby triumph came ater he finished second in one of the strongest Derby trials of recent times when runner-up to Alenquer in the Sandown Classic Trial in April.
The winner went on to win at Royal Ascot, while the third Yibir won the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket and fourth Lone Eagle won a trial at Goodwood before his second in the G1 Irish Derby.
Appleby is looking forward to Saturday’s King George, which he says will define the second half of Adayar’s season.
“Like everybody else, we’ve got a huge watching brief on this. Everybody’s wanting to know how good the three-year-olds are, particularly at a mile and a half. We would like to see what we are dealing with, and I think the King George will provide the answers.”