Aidan O’Brien questioned the ground conditions after Auguste Rodin, the beaten favourite in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes for the second consecutive year, finished fifth.
Despite his impressive victory in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, the son of Deep Impact failed to shine on what was expected to be ideal ground for him, with conditions appearing to be good to soft rather than good to firm. O’Brien noted that the track was cut up, especially on the rails, which contributed to his colt's performance issues.
O’Brien expressed concerns about the track conditions, noting it was good to soft in areas and uneven on the rails, limiting their options. They plan to assess the colt's condition before deciding on the Japan Cup.
In contrast, Ralph Beckett's Bluestocking performed impressively, finishing second to Goliath after her recent Group One win. "We're thrilled with her effort," said Barry Mahon, considering future races like the Yorkshire Oaks and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Charlie Appleby’s Rebel’s Romance, who placed third, is likely to race abroad. "He performed well in a competitive field," he commented, mentioning potential opportunities in America, Germany, or the Hong Kong Vase.
Clerk of the course Chris Stickels confirmed O’Brien's ground assessment, citing the times and noting they applied 3mm of water the previous night.