King Of Steel Will Bypass International And Point To Irish Champion Instead

Derby runner-up King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}), last seen when third in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. last month, will skip the Aug. 23 G1 Juddmonte International S. and instead target the G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. on Sept. 9.

“We didn't confirm him today for York,” said Tom Pennington, racing manager for owners, Amo Racing. “I know when you look at the prize-money and think it could be quite a small field, you might get a bit carried away, but we are going back to what was always Plan A and go to Ireland.

“We've been patient with him all the way along and I don't think another couple of weeks is going to do us any harm. He's in good form and he's on the right track, we're very happy with him.

“When you look at his size, touch wood, he should be even better again next year and we're playing the long game with him.”

The G2 King Edward VII S. hero, who is trained by Roger Varian, was due to face four-time Group 1 winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), G1 Prince Of Wales's S. hero Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and 2022 G1 Derby victor Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) among others in the York showpiece.

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Vadeni Heads Irish Champion Septet

Saturday's feast of racing is taking shape with final fields for all races announced Thursday morning. Leopardstown's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. has attracted seven contenders with G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Coral-Eclipse hero Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) set to depart from stall two. Opponents Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) have drawn gates five and six, respectively. Meanwhile, Doncaster's G1 Cazoo St Leger will see nine head to post for the world's oldest Classic. Godolphin's New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is trading as the odds-on favourite, has been allocated stall four for the extended 14-furlong contest. His main rivals, 'TDN Rising Star' Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and G1 Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}), have drawn gates five and seven. Juddmonte's hitherto undefeated Haskoy (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), who represents the same Ralph Beckett stable as the last successful distaffer Simple Verse (Ire) (Danehill) in 2015, will depart from stall three.

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