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Desert Crown is a notable absentee as eleven declare for an outstanding renewal of the Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
It is a clash of the generations as the Derby first and second, Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel, take on Coronation Cup heroine Emily Upjohn, Brigadier Gerard victor Hukum and last year's winner Pyledriver.
Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel will be meeting for the first time since the Derby, with both colts winning their sole subsequent start. Auguste Rodin completed a Derby double when taking the Irish equivalent at the Curragh whilst King Of Steel achieved Royal Ascot success in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes.
Emily Upjohn returns to twelve furlongs, a distance where she is undefeated (2-2), following her gallant second behind Paddington in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park over ten furlongs whilst Hukum will be looking for a third track success. Pyledriver had the ideal preparation for defending his title when taking the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes over course and distance at the Royal meeting.
The top four in the market are joined by dual Group 1 winner Luxembourg and this years' Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud victor Westover.
Sir Michael Stoute's Desert Crown was withdrawn from the race on Thursday morning with a leg infection. The four-year-old will now be aimed at the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York.
1. Bolshoi Ballet (Aidan O'Brien)
2. Deauville Legend (James Ferguson)
3. Hamish (William Haggas)
4. Hukum (Owen Burrows)
5. Luxembourg (Aidan O'Brien)
6. Point Lonsdale (Aidan O'Brien)
7. Pyledriver (Muir & Grassick)
8. Westover (Ralph Beckett)
9. Emily Upjohn (John & Thady Gosden)
10. Auguste Rodin (Aidan O'Brien)
11. King Of Steel (Roger Varian)
