Kevin Stott has full faith in King Of Steel ahead of his Auguste Rodin rematch but is mindful that the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes is far from a two-horse race.
The Roger Varian-trained colt was second under Stott in last month's Derby, finishing half a length behind Auguste Rodin at 66-1.
The grey, who is a strapping son of Wootton Bassett, looked the winner at the two-furlong pole but was eventually collared by the Aidan O’Brien-trained challenger.
Auguste Rodin went on the win the Irish Derby with a rather more laboured performance, whereas King Of Steel was imperious at the Royal meeting when cruising to a three-and-a-half-length win in the King Edward VII Stakes.
As a result the rematch is much anticipated, but the two rivals are not the only big names in a stellar line up for Saturday’s Group One held at Ascot.
Last year’s hero and subsequent Hardwicke Stakes winner Pyledriver will line up, as will 2022 Derby victor Desert Crown – who is set to be ridden by William Buick – and his Brigadier Gerard conqueror Hukum.
Much of the conversation revolves around the clash between this year’s Derby one-two and though Stott is hopeful he can reverse the form, he is still holds great respect for the other contenders.
"It’s probably the Flat race of the season so far, you’ve got all the best horses in there – proven ones and upcoming ones," he said.
"If it’s a 12- or 15-runner field then it’s going to be really, really exciting. There’s not long left now, he did a nice piece of work this morning and it’s all systems go.
"It’s by no means a two-horse race. There are some very high quality horses in there and especially if we are going to have ease in the ground, there are a lot of horses with very good form on slower ground."
AUGUSTE RODIN WINS THE BETFRED DERBY! 💥@Betfred #DerbyFestival #オーギュストロダン #ディープインパクト #競馬 pic.twitter.com/1N7qoQ8u8U
— Epsom Downs Racecourse (@EpsomRacecourse) June 3, 2023
Stott was visibly disappointed after King Of Steel’s Derby defeat, feeling he could have won had he timed his challenge differently, but having had time to reflect, he is more accepting of how the race panned out.
He said: "I still look at the replay now and again from the Derby and go over it again and again. I’ve got to the stage now where I wouldn’t change anything that I did, we just got run down by the better horse on the day.
"I had no pressure on me, I was just riding him to run well, to see what we had, to see if the home work was backing up in a race.
"Between the two and the three (furlong) pole I was in front by two and a bit lengths and the next thing you know I was screaming for the finish line.
"Unfortunately we just got run down by a very good horse on the day, hopefully we can turn the form around but we have to, first of all, beat some other very good horses in the race.
"It’s not just a race between the two three-year-olds, but I like to think that if it does come down to a battle again from the furlong pole, then hopefully our fella will pull it out.
"I’ve got a lot of faith in the horse, but then again Aidan O’Brien is the master of the world that we live in and even though Auguste Rodin’s win in the Irish Derby wasn’t as visually flattering as the English Derby, he is probably one of the nicest horses that Aidan has trained."
Meanwhile, Simca Mille could bypass the race if ground conditions are deemed unsuitable.
The Stephane Wattel-trained four-year-old has won twice at Group Two level – at Longchamp and Chantilly – this term, latterly producing an eye-catching turn of foot to land the Grand Prix de Chantilly by an easy three and a half lengths under Alexis Pouchin.
Wattel said: "The ground might be a concern. A final decision will be made on Thursday morning.
"We have prepared toward this race for a long time. I know the competition is very, very high and it will be a fantastic race.
"I don’t mind competing with the very difficult competition – if the horses are better, then they are better – but I want to have the best conditions for my horse to handle correctly, which at the moment is a concern.
"It is going to be a fantastic race and it will be great for the public and fun for all the sportsmen to see such good horses, but for Simca Mille, he needs fast ground and I doubt we will get fast ground.
"It is difficult to put a percentage on it, and I don’t want to say too much about it. A final decision will be made on Thursday morning. I am not the only one (to make the decision)."
Should last season’s Group One Grand Prix de Paris neck runner-up not take his place in the King George line-up, he could head to Germany or stay closer to home.
Wattel added: "He is entered in the Grosser Preis von Berlin (at Hoppegarten on 13 August) in Germany, which is a Group One, but I would say I will be very happy, even if it is only a Group Two, he has the Grand Prix de Deauville (27 August), which for a Deauville-based trainer is an important race also.
"He has had fantastic results at Longchamp, so we will keep an eye on the Arc, if the ground is suitable for him."
