In a shocking turn of events, connections of Epsom Oaks winner Taghrooda announced the filly would be dropping out of Saturday’s Darley Irish Oaks, which she was the red-hot favourite for, in favour of next week’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
Taghrooda: led home a one-two in the Oaks. PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
The John Gosden-trained filly had been expected to line up at the Curragh, where she was 4-6 favourite with 
Paddy Power, but owner-breeder Hamdan Al Maktoum decided a crack at the Qipco-backed King George would be a better experience, considering the three year-old will be retired at the end of the season.
The plan had been for Taghrooda to take out an Oaks double, but pushing her towards bigger and better races in her final season is a smart move. Maktoum will still be represented in the Irish Oaks by Tarfasha, who came second in last month’s Investec Oaks at Epsom, and is now the 5-2 favourite to take out the Irish equivalent.
The sheikh’s racing manager Angus Gold explained on Thursday morning: “Taghrooda is going to run in the King George at Ascot all being well.
“I think Sheikh Hamdan wanted to give her a chance in the big one as she will be retiring at the end of this year.
“He’s got Tarfasha in Ireland who would hopefully have a decent chance in the Oaks and he just felt this filly is not going to have too many more races and deserved a chance.
“She gets plenty of weight from the older horses so Sheikh Hamdan just thought while she’s in good form let’s go.”
After entering the King George VI betting market, Taghrooda debuted at an impressive 7-2 with Paddy Power, behind just Telescope at 7-4 and Magician at 3-1. The Ascot race is full of tough competition for the Gosden-trained filly, including Noble Mission (12-1) and Leading Light (16-1). This won’t be a walk like the Irish Oaks was predicated to be.
This race will be a move from Gosden’s strategy for Taghrooda, which involved keeping her to her own sex. But after three wins from three starts since she debuted in September, it is the perfect time to switch things up.
The opportunity also provides Sheikh Hamdan, who won the King George with Nashwan in 1989, the chance to cement his position at the top of the owners’ championship in Britain with £567,000 on offer to the winner of Ascot’s midsummer prize.
The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs, and is Britain’s most prestigious open-age flat race. Its roll of honour features some of the most highly acclaimed horses of the sport’s recent history.
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