Group Two King George Qatar Stakes Guide 2023

Alex Dudley | @@Alex_Dudz_

Goodwood - August 03 2023
Goodwood 14:35
2(9)
Frankie Dettori

Equilateral

J: Frankie Dettori
T: Charles Hills
N/A
Age: 8
Weight: 9-4
OR: 106
Days: 45

Frankie Dettori rides the Charles Hills-trained Equilateral on Friday. The eight-year-old was four and a half lengths behind Bradsell on his previous start at Ascot in the G1 King’s Stand Stakes.

That performance leaves him with something to find on Highfield Princess. Equilateral is an incredibly likeable contender, but he has won just three from 31 efforts in stakes company.

Goodwood - August 03 2023
Goodwood 14:35
4(6)
James Doyle

Raasel

J: James Doyle
T: Michael Appleby
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 9-4
OR: 101
Days: 3

Raasel still holds an entry for the King George Qatar Stakes this week, but it would require a very quick turnaround as he competed in the Coral Handicap on Tuesday. Despite being sent off favourite, he could only finish ninth of 12.

It’s hard to see the Michael Appleby-trained runner lining up on Friday, but he has form to find on Equality after finishing behind his rival in the G3 Coral Charge.

Goodwood - August 03 2023
Goodwood 14:35
1(1)
Ryan Moore

Equality

J: Ryan Moore
T: Charles Hills
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-4
OR: 110
Days: 27

Charles Hills trained Equality, who will be the runner of Ryan Moore in the King George Qatar Stakes on Friday.

The five-year-old produced a career-best effort on his previous start to land the G3 Coral Charge over five furlongs at Sandown.

That was an excellent follow-up effort after his success over the same distance at Windsor. He looks very consistent this season, and should go well. But, heavy conditions would be a concern.

Goodwood - August 03 2023
Goodwood 14:35
6(3)
Jason Hart

Highfield Princess

J: Jason Hart
T: John Quinn
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 9-1
OR: 117
Days: 41

John Quinn-trained Highfield Princess is the likely class of the field, as the mare has won five from 17 starts in stakes company. She ended last season in scintillating fashion, showcasing her dominance over five furlongs by landing the G1 Nunthorpe and G1 Flying Five Stakes.

\Highfield Princess is yet to win this season, but she finished half a length behind Azure Blue in the G2 Duke of York Clipper Stakes, and just a length behind Bradsell in the G1 King’s Stand Stakes. Jason Hart once again takes the ride on her return to five furlongs.

Goodwood - August 03 2023
Goodwood 14:35
3(5)
Hayley Turner

Ponntos

J: Hayley Turner
T: Miroslav Nieslanik
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-4
OR: 97
Days: 61

Hayley Turner will ride the Miroslav Nieslanik-trained Ponntos on Friday. The five-year-old was last seen at Chantilly in June, where he finished eighth of 12 in the G2 Prix du Gros-Chene.

This runner is yet to produce his best form on British soil, evident in this exact race 12 months ago as he finished fifth of eleven.

Goodwood - August 03 2023
Goodwood 14:35
10(2)
Jason Watson

Nymphadora

J: Jason Watson
T: Andrew Balding
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-1
OR: 106
Days: 20

Andrew Balding’s Nymphadora had plenty of reappearing rivals behind her in the John Smith’s City Wall Stakes on her previous start, as she pressed home her dominance late on to win by nearly two lengths from Silky Wilkie.

The four-year-old also landed victory over the five-furlong distance at Chester in May, beating King’s Lynn by a length in the CAA Stellar Handicap.

She could hold each-way claims on Friday after finishing four from eleven at Goodwood in the G3 Molecomb back in 2021 over this trip.

Goodwood - August 03 2023
Goodwood 14:35
11(8)
Clifford Lee

White Lavender

J: Clifford Lee
T: K R Burke
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-1
OR: 108
Days: 13

Karl Burke-trained White Lavender will be the ride of Clifford Lee on Friday. This mare finished fifth on her previous start in the G2 Sapphire Stakes over five furlongs.

However, the conditions could really suit her this week, as she won over this distance at Longchamp in the G3 Prix de Saint-Georges, and also placed a close second behind The Platinum Queen on very soft conditions in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines. A very interesting outsider.

Goodwood - August 03 2023
Goodwood 14:35
8(11)
Ben Coen

Ladies Church

J: Ben Coen
T: J P Murtagh
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-1
OR: 110
Days: 13

Johnny Murtagh’s runner in the race on Friday is Ladies Church. This filly will be the ride of Ben Coen, and she was last seen at the end of July, finishing four and three-quarter lengths behind Art Power in the G2 Barberstown Castle Saphire Stakes.

Highfield Princess beat her by ten lengths last season, but she has looked largely progressive this term, including a three-length win over Mass Tucker in the Sole Power Sprint Stakes at Naas. Conditions could suit this four-year-old.

Goodwood - August 03 2023
Goodwood 14:35
5(7)
Richard Kingscote

Silky Wilkie

J: Richard Kingscote
T: K R Burke
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-4
OR: 109
Days: 20

Karl Burke and Richard Kingscote join forces with Silky Wilkie on Friday. The four-year-old has finished second in his previous two starts, including a respectable effort behind Nymphadora in the John Smith’s City Wall Stakes at York over five furlongs.

The five-year-old is one that has some form on soft ground, having finished three and a quarter lengths behind Vadream in the G3 Howden Palace Stakes at Newmarket in May.

Goodwood - August 03 2023
Goodwood 14:35
9(4)
Tom Marquand

Makarova

J: Tom Marquand
T: Ed Walker
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-1
OR: 101
Days: 27

Tom Marquand will be chasing another big victory this week on Friday when he takes the ride on Makarova.

The four-year-old was a length and a half behind Equality on her previous start in the G3 Coral Charge. She won over five furlongs at Ayr in late June, beating Marine Wave by a length and three-quarters.

Goodwood - August 03 2023
Goodwood 14:35
7(10)
Rossa Ryan

Kerdos

J: Rossa Ryan
T: Clive Cox
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-1
OR: 102
Days: 20

Clive Cox trains Kerdos, who will be looking for a first win in stakes company on his second start in this grade. He was last seen finishing sixth of eight in the John Smith’s City Wall Stakes.

But he did look impressive at Ascot earlier in the company when finishing a neck behind Rhythm N Hooves in the Palace of Holyrood. But the ride of Rossa Ryan has plenty to find on ratings.