I've 'done' the King George and am getting mixed conclusions.
Once again - as with Hawk Wing and other very impressive Grade/Group 1 winners - what appeared a very fast run race isn't being borne out by comparative times, and novice handicap chase winner on the same card Polyfast is in danger of becoming the next Lindop.
Long Run won impressively a visually fast run Feltham in spite of an inept-looking performance from his jockey. His time rating works out 41lbs slower than Kauto Star's. Long Run went into the race off an OR of 154, which would bring Kauto Star out at 195, if we went down that road of comparison.
However, Long Run was only 13lbs faster than the 114-rated Polyfast in the last, and there's nothing in the form lines to suggest that Polyfast is anything near a 141 animal. If he is, look no further for the winner of the Jewson.
I've gone with my 165 for Barber Shop as my line to Kauto Star. It puts the champ on 193+ and, as I said before, I reckon you could probably add another minimum of 3lbs to account for slowing down to pop - rather than attack and fly - the last, plus whatever he had in reserve, which was unlikely to have been a great deal.
In the circumstances, I'd say Kauto Star's new OR of 195 is pretty much on the money but, just as Hawk Wing's Lockinge time rating (124) was close to average for a Group 1, so Kauto Star's was little better than average for a King George winner.
