King George: trainer insight as Westover and Emily Upjohn face top-class rivals

King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (Group 1) | 3yo+ | 1m4f | ITV/SKY

History tells you it takes a three-year-old of rare constitution and quality to run in the Derby and Irish Derby before tackling the older generation in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes.

Only truly exceptional talents – Troy and Shergar in 1979 and 1981, followed by Generous a decade later and Galileo in 2001 – have been able to complete the hat-trick, but Westover would still be in rarefied company if he could add victory in Ascot's glittering summer jewel to two strong Classic performances.

Having followed up his Derby third with victory in Ireland, the son of Frankel arrives with the same profile as the John Oxx-trained Alamshar did in 2003. Since then, none of the six colts that ran at Epsom (or in the French Derby the same weekend) and took in another race anywhere in between, have managed to get the job done at Ascot.

In powering away from his rivals under Colin Keane in the Irish Derby, Westover looked like he had the physique to take in three tough tests in the space of 50 days, and trainer Ralph Beckett has been pleased with what he's seen in the four weeks since.

"Westover is in good form and has trained well since the Curragh," said Beckett. "He had an awayday at Kempton and that went well so we're all set and looking forward to the challenge."

Mishriff and Emily Upjohn add further depth to elite line-up

John Gosden has done more than most to keep the King George at the forefront of the Flat season, having run the majority of his top middle-distance horses at Ascot and landing the prize five times in the last 11 years.

With Taghrooda and Enable accounting for four of those successes it might make sense to start with Emily Upjohn, who was arguably unlucky not to reel in Tuesday in the Cazoo Oaks. She has also had to wait for her next target after issues with her air transport to the Curragh ruled her out of the Juddmonte Irish Oaks last week.

The market marginally favours Emily Upjohn over her stablemate Mishriff and Gosden was quick to point to the fact she will carry only 8st 9lb.

"This race is obviously plan B for Emily Upjohn who we had hoped to run in the Irish Oaks last week but due to logistical problems we were unable to get there," said Gosden.

"She's been freshened up since the Oaks and obviously gets a good pull in the weights from her elders. She gets a stone from the older horses and three pounds from the Irish Derby winner so hopefully can run a nice race."

James Doyle gets a first crack aboard the globetrotting Mishriff, whose limited tries at a mile and a half comprises victory over crack Japanese opposition in the shape of Chrono Genesis and Loves Only You and a fine second to Adayar in this race 12 months ago.

"Mishriff ran a great race in the Eclipse to be second and we're taking the same route as we did last year and coming here," said Gosden. "Obviously this is a step up in trip in an elite race with Arc winners, Irish Derby winners and Juddmonte winners in there."

Success for Mishriff or Emily Upjohn would put a third generation of Gosdens on the roll of honour, with joint licence-holder Thady bidding to join his grandfather Towser, who sent out Aggressor to defeat the great Petite Etoile in 1960 under the late Jimmy Lindley.

What they say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Broome
We're happy with him. Everything has gone well since the Hardwicke, and the plan was always to come back for this. He had a lovely first run back this season in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and he stepped forward from that last time.

William Muir, joint-trainer of Pyledriver
I've been happy with him since Epsom. He's not missed a day. He's been up the gallops, done everything as we wanted and had his awaydays. His racing weight is perfect and I'm very happy with him. PJ McDonald has only ridden him once and he won on him.

Marcel Weiss, trainer of Torquator Tasso
If he's placed we'll be very happy. Anything better than that would be crazy. We have a lot of respect for the three-year-olds and for Mishriff, but if you want to win the Arc, you have to beat these horses and he's good enough. His last gallop was important and it gives us a lot of confidence because we saw the horse like he was last year. He needs a race to wake up, to come back and then he's getting better and better from race to race.

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Read more on the King George:

'Double-figure odds are plain wrong' - why this horse can win the King George

Where does the King George stand in the pantheon of great Flat races?

Who wins the 2022 King George at Ascot based on previous trends?

Super six: each King George contender assessed on strengths and weaknesses

2022 King George at Ascot: the runners, the odds, the verdict

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