Benvenuto Cellini Aims to Follow in the Footsteps of Galileo in a High-Voltage King George

Aidan O'Brien relies on the ability of the Irish Derby winner, one of his four entrants for Saturday at Ascot

NEWMARKET, England (Special for Turf Diario).- If anyone knows what it takes to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), it is Aidan O'Brien. A four-time winner of Ascot's signature contest, the Irishman is mounting a major assault this Saturday with Benvenuto Cellini, the recent Irish Derby (G1) hero, whom he did not hesitate to compare to his illustrious grandsire Galileo (Sadler's Wells)—albeit with one promising distinction: he believes his current star possesses superior turn of foot.

The son of Frankel will attempt to replicate the feat accomplished by Galileo himself in 2001, when, after taking the Irish classic, he went on to capture the King George. Should he succeed, he would become just the seventh 3-year-old to win the race this century.

"We think he is a horse of immense quality, especially on fast ground. He is probably a bit faster than Galileo, but he moves like him and we also think he has that same bravery," O'Brien stated.

For the Ballydoyle master, the King George represents the ultimate test for any European stayer.

"There is no better race over a mile and a half anywhere. It is typically run on fast ground, at Ascot, a very special venue. You need a horse that stays, but also one with tremendous class. Furthermore, it is the first major clash of the 3-year-olds against older horses over this distance," he explained.

The task will be far from easy. Benvenuto Cellini faces favorite Calandagan (Gleneagles); the consistent Kalpana(Study of Man), runner-up last year; Japanese contender Masquerade Ball (Duramente), who arrives with impressive credentials; and his own stablemate Minnie Hauk (Frankel), among other rivals in a field of nine.

In fact, O'Brien believes he holds two top-tier hands in the race.

Minnie Hauk enters off a second-place finish behind Ombudsman (Night of Thunder) in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1), a performance the trainer rated as the best of her career.

"We ran her there with a view to coming back for the King George, and we felt it was probably her best race. The extra quarter-mile should suit her down to the ground," he noted.

The daughter of Frankel had already shown her class last season, finishing second to Daryz (Sea the Stars) in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) before concluding her campaign with a sixth-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Del Mar, in the United States.

And indeed, the autumn showcase at Keeneland in late October looms on the horizon for both Ballydoylerepresentatives. The King George forms part of the "Win and You're In" program, granting its winner an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Turf.

O'Brien made no secret of the importance he attaches to the American event.

"The Breeders' Cup is massive. Last year we went with Minnie Hauk and got it wrong tactically. There is no better place to compete; the best horses in the world meet there, at world-class tracks and with an incredible atmosphere," he said.

Regarding Benvenuto Cellini, the trainer considers him tailored for that international challenge.

"He could certainly go as well. He is a horse that will travel very well and has fantastic action. I think for the Breeders' Cup you need precisely that kind of speed. Plus, he is very straightforward to train and doesn't require too much work, which could work in his favor," he commented.

Finally, O'Brien once again highlighted the significance of the program promoted by the Breeders' Cup.

"We all have foals nominated from birth. That shows how important it is. The prize money is huge, the organization is top-class, and the atmosphere is incredible. The 'Win and You're In' program is a brilliant initiative because it incentivizes participation in these great races," he concluded.

With Benvenuto Cellini leading the charge for the classic generation and Minnie Hauk providing a top-level alternative, Ballydoyle heads to the King George looking to reclaim a trophy that has eluded them since Highland Reel(Galileo) in 2016—while taking a decisive step toward the Breeders' Cup Turf, the ultimate international target of the autumn.