Poet’s Word evokes Dubai theme SUHAIL FLAG-BEARER STARTS FAVOURITE IN £1.2M KING GEORGE & QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES
Dubai-owned horses have an impressive track record in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1), British racing’s midsummer showpiece, which takes place at Ascot today, and Poet’s Word looks to have every chance of continuing that dominance.
Raced by Derby-winning Emirati businessman, Saeed Suhail, the Sir Michael Stoutetrained son of Dalham Hall Stud’s star stallion Poet’s Voice, is the 2/1 ante post favourite to win the prestigious 2,400 metre contest which carries a lucrative purse of £1.25 million.
The mount of in-demand Godolphin jockey James Doyle, Poet’s Word is bidding to become the 13th horse with a Dubai connection and first since 2015 when Postponed triumphed in the colours of Shaikh Mohammad Obaid Al Maktoum.
He is one of two leading chances that the highly regarded Stoute has sent to Ascot, the other being Crystal Ocean, the mount of Doyle’s Godolphin teammate, William Buick.
The Stoute duo face quality rivals, among them the 66/1 outsider Desert Encounter, who also has a Dubai connection in Abdullah Al Mansouri.
Other notables in the field include Irish raider Hydrangea, who was an exciting winner of the Champions Fillies ■ & Mares Stakes (G1) at Ascot on British Champions Day last year, and the John Gosdentrained Coronet, who also sampled success at this track when landing the Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) at last season’s Royal Ascot festival. ■
Stoute, who became the most successful trainer in history at the Royal meeting last month, was quietly optimistic of the chances of both his contenders.
“They have and it’s a separate owners logical race for both of them mid-season,” he told Sportinglife.com. “They’re very easy and straightforward horses. There’s nothing complex about either colt.
“Crystal Ocean has won all three of his starts this year and he’s won at Ascot over King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) 2,400m
2/1 Poet’s Word, 9/4 Crystal Ocean, 11/4 Cracksman, 10/1 Hydrangea, 12/1 Coronet, 15/1 Rostropovich, 33/1 Salouen, 66/1 Desert Encounter.
the course and distance. The ground may be fast, but actually he’s impervious to ground, so I’m not concerned about that. He’s entitled to go and take his chance, for sure.”
“That would have been Poet’s Word’s best performance to date, in the Prince of Wales’s. He ran very well in the Sheema Classic [over a mile and a half], too, so he is effective over that trip as well,” the trainer added.
“He has been recording high levels of form and seems versatile in terms of distance — 10 or 12 furlongs. He has won at the track, too, and his preparation has gone well.
“It is a very high-level race and is always competitive. My horses have decent form and are first and second favourite. They may not finish first and second, but they are entitled to be in there,” Stoute said.
The Zimbabwean-born Stoute, who is chasing a record sixth King George trophy eclipsed legendary rival Sir Henry Cecil as the most successful trainer at Royal Ascot when he claimed a 76 victory this year. He is joint leader with Godolphin veteran Saeed Bin Surour and the legendary Dick Hern with five wins.