Taghrooda is close to disputing second-favouritism behind Telescope for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot after her unexpected withdrawal from this weekend’s Irish Oaks.
The John Gosden-trained filly was odds-on to make it a Classic double after her victory in the English Oaks, but owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum has chosen to rely solely upon his Epsom runner-up Tarfasha and wait a week with her stablemate.
“Sheikh Hamdan has now decided that he would like to run Taghrooda in the King George at Ascot and therefore she will not be declared for the Irish Oaks,” the sheikh’s racing manager Angus Gold said.
“Taghrooda will be retired to stud at the end of this year and Sheikh Hamdan thought he would like to take his chance in the big one. She’s in good form and she gets plenty of weight from the older horses.
“It was tempting to go to Ireland and try to win another Oaks, but we have a filly there and it’s possibly not the strongest King George ever and Sheikh Hamdan was keen to give her a chance there.”
Taghrooda has come in for sustained support, tumbling from 6-1 to 7-2 with Coral and is into 100-30 with William Hill, just behind Magician.
Sheikh Hamdan already has a live King George contender in the Eclipse winner Mukhadram, while Gosden is not short on options himself and a decision on whether Eagle Top will join his stablemate will not be made until Monday morning.
The lightly-raced colt was an impressive winner of the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting.
