Oldies raise the stakes at Ascot

This weekend sees the most prestigious flat race of the summer in the shape of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Saturday's showpiece is the first time the Classic generation get to take on their elders. Sadly, however, this year's three-year-old crop isn't that well represented so it's left to the older brigade to cement their name in the history books.

Aidan O'Brien, who's won the race with the great Galileo, as well as Duke Of Marmalade and Dylan Thomas, looks set to rely on St Nicholas Abbey who has really bounced back to form with a vengeance after a cheeky success in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last month. Described as an enigma by connections, the son of Montjeu, himself a winner of this race in 2000, has proven a little frustrating, and after running away with the Racing Post Trophy as a juvenile, the now 4-y-o put a couple of disappointing efforts behind him when scoring in impressive fashion at Chester en route to his Epsom victory. Quite why he's taken so long to show what he's really made of is a question only connections can answer.

But whatever his previous flaws, he is now a superstar waiting in the wings and should be very hard to beat, although he won't have the services of Ryan Moore, who has been on board the last twice, because he looks set to partner Sir Michael Stoute's Workforce who was narrowly touched off by So You Think in the Eclipse Stakes earlier in the month, but bids to put his dismal effort of 12 months ago behind him.

Both of the Godolphin strings could not be in better form and Mahmoud Al Zarouni's Rewilding returns to the scene of his biggest UK triumph and is the main flag-bearer for the boys in blue. In fact this is a particularly lucky contest for Godolphin as their famous royal blue silks have been carried to success on no fewer than five occasions.

Five-star Godolphin

The brilliant Lammtarra started the winning thread in 1995 (after winning the Epsom Derby) while Daylami and Doyen have also carried the prestigious silks to the number one spot. Don't forget Swain did it twice, in 1997 and 1998!

Staged over a mile and a half, there have been some other brilliant horses that have graced the famous winners' enclosure and there is no doubt that Harbinger, who made mincemeat of his rivals in last year's renewal, was the most impressive in recent times. Unfortunately he was never given the chance to prove himself a genuine legend due to injury, but it seems highly unlikely that we will struggle to see a performance of such like this year.

While most of the attention will be focused on the thoroughbreds, the purebred Arabians get their chance on the bigger stage in the Abu Dhabi-sponsored Arabian Derby which completes a big week for Arabian racing after Sunday's ‘Dubai Day' at Newbury. As usual the meeting attracted massive crowds and, despite the weather, showed that Arabian racing is really on the up!