ames Fergusons thoughts on letting Deauville Legend take his chance this Saturday.
Despite it being "the hardest King George he can remember", trainer James Ferguson will not be ducking the high-class opposition as he aims stable star Deauville Legend at the Ascot Group 1 on Saturday.
Winner of the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last August, the four-year-old embarked on a trip to Australia over the winter where he came home a gallant fourth in the Melbourne Cup having started favourite for the prestigious handicap.
Deauville Legend wasn't seen again for more than seven months before appearing in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot where he finished just under three lengths behind Pyledriver, who is set to reoppose this weekend.
He was denied a clear run for much of the home straight that day and Ferguson believes the run should set him up nicely for the rest of the campaign.
"Deauville Legend is in really good order and we're heading to the King George," Ferguson said on Sunday.
"He ran a great race at Royal Ascot in the Hardwicke. He'd had a long layoff and probably needed the run. He was potentially a bit short of room, too, but if he'd have had a run under his belt he probably would have been able to kick on when he was asked."
With the likes of last month's Derby 1-2 Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel, Coronation Cup heroine Emily Upjohn and Brigadier Gerard 1-2 Hukum and 2022 Derby winner Desert Crown also among the likely opposition, Deauville Legend finds himself a general 40-1 shot for the King George.
"It's going to be the hardest King George I can remember," said Ferguson, "but I think he's good enough to be competitive in a race like that."
Races such as the Irish St Leger and a repeat bid for the Melbourne Cup could follow later in 2023, and Ferguson added: "We're very much aiming towards an international campaign at the end of the year so it's just another stepping stone, but he's definitely good enough to take his place."