19 July 2023 , 17:31
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Aidan O'Brien is mulling over a five-pronged challenge for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday week.
And the Group 1 clash of the generations received another boost with the news that an impressive gallop on Wednesday saw 2022 Derby hero Desert Crown on course for Ascot.
O’Brien, whose four King George successes leave him two short of the record set by Sir Michael Stoute, plans to saddle this summer’s dual Derby victor Auguste Rodin - alongside Ballydoyle stablemates Luxembourg, Adelaide River, Bolshoi Ballet and Point Lonsdale.
“The race suits a lot of them at this time of the year,” O’Brien revealed yesterday.
“If everything is well with Auguste Rodin, the King George is the plan and everything has gone well since the Curragh.
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Auguste Rodin (left) wins the Derby from King Of Steel (Getty)“Luxembourg is a very strong possible at the moment. He’s won over shorter but always thought that a mile and a half wouldn’t be any problem to him.
“Adelaide River came out of the Grand Prix de Paris [at Longchamp last Friday] and we will give him a bit of time before we decide about him.
“Bolshoi Ballet is a strong possibilty and Point Lonsdale is a possible.”
Desert Crown, who missed Royal Ascot’s Prince Of Wales’s Stakes after meeting with a setback last month, worked in Newmarket under Ryan Moore..
Bruce Raymond, owner to the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt’s owner Saeed Suhail, reported: “It was a pleasing gallop.
“Michael was very pleased with him and I think there is a good chance he will go to Ascot.”