ST NICHOLAS Abbey remains at the top of the King George VI Queen Elizabeth Stakes market after a dozen entries were left in the midsummer highlight yesterday.
Aidan O’Brien is chasing a fourth King George victory and has also left in both Robin Hood and Windsor Palace as pacemarker options on Saturday for his dual-Coronation Cup winner.
St Nicholas Abbey will have to overcome last year’s winner Nathaniel who has been left in by John Gosden as well the Hardwicke scorer Sea Moon and last year’s Arc heroine Danedream.
The German star’s trainer Peter Schiergen is prepared to write off her last start when only fourth in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
“Nothing went right for her at Saint-Cloud, they went very slow early on and that didn’t suit. She prefers a strong gallop and that is usually what you get in England,” he said yesterday.
“Soft ground would not bother her at all, she handles it very well indeed so if it was very soft that would not change anything,” he added.
Also remaining in the race are the Japanese Derby winner Deep Brillante and the Melbourne Cup victor, Dunaden, as well as the French pair, Shaerta and Reliable Man.
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