From a Melbourne Cup cert to a King George winner? Jan Brueghel aiming to confirm Coronation Cup form in Ascot highlight

Jan Brueghel has come a very long way in a very short period. This time last year we had seen him only twice and he had to defy an in-running high of 8-1 on Betfair to justify 8-13 favouritism in a Group 3 at the Curragh. He won by a neck. Now he is the best horse in Ballydoyle alongside Delacroix and is 7-4 for a King George. It has been a staggering rise to stardom. 

The son of Galileo can look tricky at times, but he's a Leger winner who has been beaten just once in his career, and he relished the battle when he eyeballed Calandagan at Epsom. That Coronation Cup made a man of him, but cheekpieces have been called for by Aidan O'Brien. 

Explaining that decision, the master trainer said: "It's a mile and a half around Ascot and he's a Leger winner so we didn't think cheekpieces would be a disadvantage to him. You have to be on your game around Ascot."

Jan Brueghel will bid to follow in some famous footsteps as Galileo (2001), Dylan Thomas (2007), Duke of Marmalade (2008) and Highland Reel (2016) have all won the mid-summer showpiece for Coolmore. 

Ryan Moore, who was on board Highland Reel and the 2009 winner Conduit, said of Jan Brueghel: "He's done very little wrong throughout his career. He’s had six starts and has won five of them including the St Leger. He beat Calandagan in the Coronation Cup last month and we think a mile and a half at Ascot will suit him well. Conditions should be absolutely fine for him as well. Hopefully he’s going to turn up in the same shape or even better and we’d be hopeful of a similar performance. He’s the highest-rated horse in the field."

Had the Aussie vets not scratched Jan Brueghel from their biggest race because he was at "heightened risk of injury" he might well have been a Melbourne Cup winner by now, as O'Brien was convinced he was chucked in off his mark last November. 

That's old news now as Jan Brueghel has become one of the most exciting horses in training, and O'Brien has even declared another Leger winner in Continuous to ensure there is proper pace in the race. 

"Obviously Continuous can go a good pace, but if someone else wants to make it then well and good. We won't mind. Who knows what's going to happen when the gates open. He's a Leger winner himself so stays well over this trip," O'Brien said. 

Crowning moment for Rebel's Romance?

The globetrotting legend Rebel's Romance has had a phenomenal career already, but King George glory would elevate his reputation to a whole different stratosphere. He won the Hardwicke Stakes over the course and distance last month and this could be his crowning moment. 

Alex Merriam, assistant to trainer Charlie Appleby, said: "It's always exciting to see Rebel's run after all he's done, but it's at the stage where we most of all want to see him come back in one piece. I think he'll give a good account of himself and Will [Buick] had a sit on him last week and seemed really happy. 

"It's been lovely to run him a few more times at home this year, because we've been able to see all the appreciation for him and you don't get to see that too often with Flat horses. Charlie felt he'd done plenty of travelling so he's worthy of a few good cracks at races here this year. 

"If we can get that Group 1 to his name in Britain that would be a good way to add to his CV."

Trip ideal for Kalpana 

The Kalpana camp got some rain, but they wanted more. 

She was electric on soft ground when scooting away with the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day last autumn, but has some top-notch form on good ground, too, so she seems ground-versatile. 

She appears to be coming to the boil, and trying to give Oaks runner-up Whirl 12lb in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh last time might prove to have been an impossible task. 

Barry Mahon, racing manager to owners Juddmonte, said: "She’s in good form and we’re looking forward to getting her back at a mile and a half. Ideally we would have liked a bit more rain, but she has shown she can acquit herself well on this sort of ground. It’s a top-class race, as you would expect with the prize fund."

Read more . . .

A score to settle as Calandagan and Jan Brueghel give us another King George showdown to savour  

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'He's got everything you'd want in a racehorse' - will Ed Walker's patience be rewarded with Almaqam in York Stakes? 

'This is a very different kettle of fish' - who can trade fences for the Flat in the unique Jump Jockeys' Nunthorpe? 

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