Racing: Ascot's going on Saturday will be a "big factor" in the performance of Kris Kin in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, according to jockey Kieren Fallon.
Connections of the Vodafone Derby winner decided not to add the colt to the field for the Budweiser Irish Derby because they feared the ground at the Curragh would have been too firm for the colt.
"The horse has a lot of ability provided it rains or they water plenty. At the moment it would be too fast for him. The ground is a big factor," Fallon told attheraces.
Officials at Ascot started watering yesterday and the going is currently described as good to firm, good in places.
Fallon partnered Kris Kin - a notoriously lazy worker - in a spin on Newmarket's watered gallop last Saturday morning.
"The horse doesn't give you much feel at home because he doesn't do anything - he never does," the champion jockey added. "If he was to work well we'd worry. He just goes through his paces.
"Kris Kin will be bidding to give his trainer Michael Stoute his fourth win in the great race following the victories of Shergar in 1981, Opera House (1993) and Golan last year.
A mouth-watering rematch between Kris Kin and Derby third Alamshar is on the cards in the showpiece, for which 16 horses stood their ground at yesterday's confirmation stage. Since Epsom, ante-post favourite Alamshar has defeated top French colt Dalakhani in the Irish Derby to earn his position at the top of the King George market.
Godolphin have their usual strong hand, with five horses still entered and will be bidding for their 100th Group One success in all. The five Godolphin entries are Grandera, Leadership, Mamool, Narrative and Sulamani.
Sulamani finished a disappointing fourth in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on his return to European racing at the end of last month and if he takes his chance in the King George Frankie Dettori will ride him.
Connections of Victory Moon believe the distance of the King George will prove ideal for their charge. "I think the extra two furlongs is going to suit us even better," Dean Maroun, spokesman for the MAD Syndicate which owns the Mike de Kock-trained four-year-old, said.
King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes betting: Ladbrokes: 5-2 Alamshar, 4-1 Nayef, 5-1 Kris Kin, 6-1 Sulamani, 7-1 Falbrav, 12-1 Victory Moon, 14-1 Millenary, 16-1 Indian Creek, Leadership, Warrsan, 20-1 Bollin Eric, 25-1 Grandera, Mamool, 100-1 Izdiham, 150-1 Narrative.
Coral: 11-4 Alamshar, 9-2 Nayef, 5-1 Kris Kin, 6-1 Sulamani, 7-1 Falbrav, 12-1 Indian Creek, Warrsan, Bollin Eric, Victory Moon, 20-1 Leadership, Millenary, 25-1 Grandera, Mamool, 40-1 Magistretti, 100-1 Narrative, Izdiham.
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