Wings Of Desire To Make His Mark In King George

Today’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes is certainly not a vintage renewal but there will still be someone celebrating the lions share of the £1,150,000 on offer for the Ascot Group 1 and it could well be the connections of the only three year old in the field.

Classic Generation Flying Solo
The absence of Postponed has left a huge void in the race and when you see Aidan O’Brien depending on Highland Reel and Sir Isaac Newton it is obviously that this race is fairly far down the pecking order now for the top trainers.

However, John Gosden may well have seized a brilliant opportunity for Epsom Derby fourth, Wings Of Desire.

Currently the 4/1 third favourite behind Highland Reel (5/2) and Darthmouth (3/1), Wings Of Desire is a colt that did an awful lot in a short space of time earlier this season and having gained the experience of running in the Epsom Derby and given the time to recoup after that, he’s a horse that could be progressive enough to make his mark against the older company.

Harzand is a dual Derby winner who will yet again create headlines before the season is out and Wings Of Desire ran a creditable race behind him and for what he lacks in experience he gets back with a 12lbs age allowance and it could be time for Frankie to shine once again.

Smullen Off To York
It’s a quiet weekend in Ireland with the traditional Sunday off tomorrow prior to the Galway Festival and Dermot Weld has allowed Pat Smullen to jet off to York for Group 2 York Stakes and Time Test, the 4/11 favourite.

It’s a perfect opportunity for Time Test to get back to winning ways and he is priced accordingly but Smullen can make the most of his visit by all winning the valuable sprint on the card.

At 4.10, Ireland’s champion jockey teams up with Kevin Ryan and Lexington Abbey and he is a 9/1 shot worth following.

The five-year-old is a four time winner over short distances and was definitely a shade unlucky at Ascot last time out over five-furlongs and the step back up to six-furlongs should be ideal.

Zig Zag Back At Gowran
A winner at the Kilkenny track on the day that Joseph O’Brien had his first winners, Zig Zag looks the pick of the bets on a tricky day at Gowran Park.
The three-year-old only got four pounds from the handicapper on that occasion and looks like a horse who can exploit that judgement.

Recommended Bets
Wings of Desire (4/1) – 4.30 Ascot
Time Test (4/11) – 3.35 York
Lexington Abbey (9/1) – 4.10 York
Zig Zag (3/1) – 3.50 Gowran Park

*Prices correct at time of publication.