Overview
- Race officials and Ballydoyle confirmed the declaration on Thursday that Benvenuto Cellini will line up in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
- O’Brien said the three-year-old moves like Galileo and has similar bravery while probably being a bit quicker, a comparison that raises expectations for his stamina over 1½ miles.
- Ballydoyle has declared a four-strong team that includes Minnie Hauk and two horses O’Brien sees as genuine chances, with some jockey bookings for his runners still to be finalised.
- The nine-runner King George is headed in the betting by Calandagan and features international contenders such as Masquerade Ball, Goliath and Kalpana, with stall draws published and Benvenuto Cellini widest in stall nine.
- The King George carries a Breeders’ Cup Turf 'Win and You’re In' berth, a prize O’Brien flagged as a possible next target for Benvenuto Cellini after his Irish Derby success and earlier Derby stalls controversy.