The apex of summer racing on the English turf is that time-honoured mile-and-a-half inter-generational test, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. This year's running is sponsored by QIPCO, and is to be flagged off at Ascot on Saturday, July 26^th at 3:50 p.m. local (8:20 p.m. in India). There are eleven likely runners, eight older customers, each of which has to shoulder 133 pounds, and a trio of three-year-olds, coincidentally all trained by John Gosden. His pair of colts have been assigned 121 pounds under the terms of the weight-for-age scale, while the lone female in the starting gate will be able to claim a further 3 pounds down to 118.

Prior to this race, members of the 2011 crop clashed swords with their elders in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown back on July 5^th when two members of the older generation proved too strong for three-year-olds Somewhat and Kingston Hill. The winner of that contest – in which he defeated six Group 1 winners – Mukhadram (by Shamardal) is back for another crack, although he will be essaying a trip further than he has ever gone in public. With Sheikh Hamdan's retained rider #1 (Paul Hanagan) deserting him in favour of a better-fancied rival (Taghrooda), a grand opportunity has arisen for the Sheikh's other contract jockey, Dane O'Neil, to take the mount on the William Haggas-trained five-year-old and the pair is at 12 to 1.

Also in the field, and available at identical odds to his recent conqueror, is the runner-up in the Eclipse, last year's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby hero Trading Leather (by Teofilo). The Godolphin ace has been a model of consistency in 5 runs since but has yet to find the winner's enclosure after his classic success. No rider has been confirmed at the time of writing but it would be a complete surprise if anyone other than trainer Jim Bolger's son-in-law Kevin Manning were to take command.

Interestingly, another four-year-old, Telescope (by Galileo) – who has improved by leaps and bounds over the past year under the patient tutelage of Sir Michael Stoute – is the warm favourite at 9 to 4. The colt has made but 8 starts over 3 seasons and his finishing positions have been divided evenly between victories and runner-up efforts. Most recently he trounced his rivals over course and distance by seven long lengths in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, demonstrating significant improvement. Regular rider Ryan Moore will no doubt be hoping for another command performance.

Another of the same vintage is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Magician (by Galileo), who is arguably better at a furlong or two less. Although without a confirmed rider listed at the moment, the 6 to 1 colt will probably have Joseph O'Brien in the saddle – unless the recent win for the under-appreciated Colm O'Donoghue in the Darley Irish Oaks leads to an increased deployment of his services! O'Brien also has stablemate Hall of Mirrors (by Duke Of Marmalade) left in, presumably as a pacemaker as the bare form of the 125 to 1 shot is way short of the standard required to win this. After a torrid start to the season, the stable is in full swing right now, so keep an eye firmly focused.

Frankel's own-brother Noble Mission (by Galileo) is another, like Telescope, to demonstrate the virtues of keeping a horse in training as an older runner. He has improved again and has three victories to his credit this season, including the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Lady Cecil's progressive five-year-old has never been "off the board" in 19 starts, so would be an attractive "each way" proposition at 25 to 1 with Prince Khalid Abdullah's retained rider James Doyle at the controls. Incidentally, the same owner is also represented by the Andre Fabre-trained Flintshire (by Dansili), who is half the price (12 to 1) but appears to have his work cut out in this set. Maxime Guyon is the only saddle artist this colt has known in his career.  

That brings us to Gosden's younger trio. It may be recalled from last week's review that Sheikh Hamdan's Investec Oaks heroine Taghrooda (by Sea The Stars) bypassed the Darley Irish Oaks for a crack at this midsummer prize and such are the glowing reports about her prowess that she has been disputing favouritism with Telescope and is only marginally lesser fancied at 5 to 2.

Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum's racing manager, Angus Gold, had this to say about the unbeaten filly: "Everything has gone very well with Taghrooda, she's been working very well and looks fantastic." He also added: "She seems very happy in herself mentally." That said, it has to be remembered that one has to go back to 1976 (Pawneese) to find the most recent successful three-year-old filly in this event.

One of the surprises of Royal Ascot was the defeat of the high-class Adelaide by the improving Eagle Top (by Pivotal) in the King Edward VII Stakes. The latter, a grand stamp of a horse, has made spectacular progress in just three career starts and his owner, Lady Bamford, has done the right thing by her three-year-old by supplementing him into the field at the hefty cost of £75,000 (Rs.75 lakhs). Given that he has the greatest scope for improvement, the 6 to 1 chance has to be respected. William Buick is his likely pilot.

The final member of Gosden's team is Romsdal (by Halling), who put up an excellent show in the Investec Derby when third to the all-conquering Australia. He has been a bit weak in the market, drifting from 20 to 1 to a best-priced 33 to 1 at the time of writing.

Tactics will be important. It is doubtful if either Mukhadram or Noble Mission, both confirmed "early" types who will either lead or press the pacemaker, will be able to stay at the helm of affairs all the way against rivals of this calibre over a mile-and-half. More than likely, they will set the stage for one of the finishers to cut them down with a scintillating burst of finishing speed. Of course, with the proviso that none of the latter group has been lying too far back in the early running.

Whatever the fortunes of the runners, it seems certain that a top-class championship level race, one that quickens the pulse, is in prospect.