TAGHROODA HEADS TO KING GEORGE
Investec Oaks winner Taghrooda will run in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 26 rather than go for a Classic double in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday.
The John Gosden-trained filly beat Dermot Weld's Tarfasha in the Epsom showpiece, with both fillies owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
Taghrooda was odds-on favourite for the Curragh but instead tackles older horses and colts in the mid-summer showpiece.
Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager Angus Gold told Press Association Sport: "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.
"Tarfasha will be declared for the Irish Oaks.
"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."
