Canford Cliffs, Makfi set for QEII rubber match

Befitting one of the highlights of the British and Irish racing calendar,

Saturday's Ascot Festival features a hot renewal of the Queen Elizabeth II S.

(Eng-G1) over one mile. As expected, star three-year-old colts CANFORD CLIFFS (Tagula)

and MAKFI (Dubawi) are among the top-class entry of 14 at the six-day stage.

The pair have traded decisions in their previous meetings. The French-based

Makfi launched a successful invasion in the May 1 Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1),

with Canford Cliffs third, but the English colt exacted his revenge in the June

15 St James's Palace S. (Eng-G1). Makfi suffered his only career loss that day

when seventh, exiting the race with a throat infection.

Since then, each sophomore has gone on to defeat an established older star.

Canford Cliffs reeled in RIP VAN WINKLE (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) in the July 28

Sussex S. (Eng-G1), while Makfi upset Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) in the August 15

Prix Jacques le Marois (Fr-G1).

Trainer Mikel Delzangles is looking forward to Makfi's rematch with the

Richard Hannon-trained Canford Cliffs.

"He is pleasing me as much now as he has done all year -- definitely,"

Delzangles said of Makfi. "It is very exciting to be coming up against Canford

Cliffs again. It should be a good match.

"The Breeders' Cup (Mile [G1] on November 6 at Churchill Downs) is his main

objective," the horseman added.

Rip Van Winkle, the defending QEII champion, is one of six entries from

trainer Aidan O'Brien. He has been racing at about 1 1/4 miles in his past two

outings, capturing the August 17 Juddmonte International (Eng-G1) and finishing

a well-beaten second to his stablemate CAPE BLANCO (Galileo [Ire]) in the

September 4 Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1).

Cape Blanco, who is reportedly aiming for the October 3 Prix de l'Arc de

Triomphe (Fr-G1), was unexpectedly kept eligible for the QEII. Rounding out the

Ballydoyle entries are BEETHOVEN (Ire) (Oratorio [Ire]), STEINBECK (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand

[GB]), WINDSOR PALACE (Danehill Dancer) and AIR CHIEF MARSHAL (Danehill Dancer).

Godolphin is responsible for RIO DE LA PLATA (Rahy), who just missed in the

September 5 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-G1), as well as three-year-old

POET'S VOICE (Dubawi), an impressive winner of the August 28 Celebration Mile

(Eng-G2).

BUSHMAN (Maria's Mon), AWZAAN (Alhaarth), HEARTS OF FIRE (Firebreak) and RED

JAZZ (Johannesburg) complete the field.

Juveniles will be highlighted in Saturday's other group action at Ascot.

WHITE MOONSTONE (Dynaformer), who created such a big impression when winning the

September 10 May Hill S. (Eng-G2), has been supplemented for the Fillies' Mile

(Eng-G1).

The Godolphin filly is unbeaten in three starts, having also won an Ascot

maiden and the August 7 Sweet Solera S. (Eng-G3), and has successfully stepped

up in trip on each occasion. She appeared to have no stamina issues over a mile

at Doncaster, with her connections having no qualms about stumping up the

£20,000 supplementary fee.

The Henry Cecil-trained FRANKEL (Galileo [Ire]), named after American

training legend Bobby Frankel, will be looking to give the Warren Place maestro

his first victory since 1994 in the Royal Lodge S. (Eng-G2) over a mile for

males.

"He worked on Saturday and we are very excited about him -- he's a really

interesting prospect for Prince Khalid (Abdullah)," said Teddy Grimthorpe, the

owner's racing manager. "We hope he can do himself justice."

Frankel, who scored a cozy half-length victory at first asking, comes off a

13-length romp in a conditions event at Doncaster.

The action will be broadcast by GBI, which airs on HRTV.