Trading Leather to clash with St Nick, Cirrus in King George

Trading Leather to clash with St Nick, Cirrus in King

George

Trading Leather is on course for a tilt at Ascot's midsummer highlight, the

Group 1, £1 million King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on July 27.

Jim Bolger's charge announced himself as one of Europe's leading middle distance

three-year-olds with a comfortable 1 3/4-length success in the Irish Derby at the Curragh on June 29.

The son of Teofilo relished the step up to 1 1/2 miles, staying on

strongly to repel the challenge of Derby third Galileo Rock, with Ruler

of the World and Libertarian, who finished first and second at Epsom Downs, well

beaten.

Bolger had completed the Irish Derby-King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

double with St Jovite in 1992, and hopes that Trading Leather can follow in his

hoofsteps.

"Trading Leather is fine and on course for the King George VI & Queen

Elizabeth II Stakes," Bolger said.

"It was a first-class performance in the Irish Derby. He ran right to the line

in a fast time and came out of the race very well.

"It gets a bit tougher now he is stepping into open company, but I am hoping he

is up to the task. Like St Jovite, he is a good Derby winner and I'm hoping he

will continue to progress from here.

"He doesn't like soft ground but after that he doesn't mind."

Trading Leather is a 5-1 chance with Betfair Sportsbook.

Irish champion trainer Aidan O'Brien has five entries headed by six-time

Group 1 winner St Nicholas Abbey, who heads to Ascot on the back of a

record-breaking third victory in the Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs on June 1.

The six-year-old is the 2-1favorite with Betfair Sportsbook.

Cirrus Des Aigles (11-4), the world's highest rated horse coming into 2013, will

be looking improve his already superb record at Ascot. The seven-year-old

captured the Champion Stakes in 2011 and chased home Frankel in the same

race last year, but could only finish fifth behind Novellist (5-1) on his

seasonal return in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on June 23.

Other notable contenders include Prince of Wales's Stakes runner-up Mukhadram (12/1)

and Roger Varian's Ektihaam (8/1), both owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum.

Hillstar has been introduced into the betting as a 7-1 chance, following the

news that the three-year may be supplemented for the race. Trained by Sir

Michael Stoute, the son of Danehill Dancer could bid to give the Newmarket

handler a record sixth win in the King George.

The lightly-raced colt has made impressive progress this season, rising from

handicap company to take the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on his

latest start.

"It's looking likely that Hillstar will be added to the line-up for an

already cracking field for the King George," Betfair Spokesman Barry Orr

commented.

"He will bid to make history for Sir Michael Stoute and looks to be a typical

improving colt from his yard. The step up in trip seemed to benefit at Ascot and

he did it nicely."

Other notables in the antepost betting for the King George are Ektihaam

(8-1), a smashing winner of the Buckhounds two back who slipped on the turn in

the Hardwicke last out, and Mukhadram (12-1), coming off a pair of mighty

efforts in defeat behind Al Kazeem.

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