Gosden & Buick respectful of Nathaniel opposition John Gosden insists Coral-Eclipse hero Nathaniel has plenty on his plate as he aims to secure a quick-fire Group One double in Saturday's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. The Galileo colt was an impressive winner of the Betfair-sponsored showpiece 12 months ago, his second course and distance victory after his triumph in last season's King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. He signed off for the year by finishing fifth in the Champion Stakes and looked better than ever when scoring on his four-year-old debut in the Eclipse. However, this year's King George arrives just a fortnight after the Sandown and Gosden admits his charge faces a real fight to defend his crown, tackling proven top-class performers like St Nicholas Abbey and Sea Moon. "It's only a two-week gap and I can't emphasise how tough that is for a horse. He had a hard race at Sandown but he has eaten well, he looks well and has been scoping great and you need to have a go at these top races," said the Clarehaven handler. "St Nicholas Abbey won the Breeders' Cup Turf well, he didn't look like he did much at the Curragh and then his run in the Coronation Cup was good. "It's nice to meet him, and these races need the form horses. Sea Moon sets a solid standard too, and it looks a good race." Gosden's stable jockey William Buick is respectful of the opposition and believes Nathaniel is still open to further progress. "It's a very good King George this year. St Nicholas Abbey is a better horse than he was last year. You've got Sea Moon, Dunaden. They are all there," he said. "He's a late-maturing horse, mentally and physically, and that was always going to be the case. "We always felt that whatever he did last year, he was going to do better this year. "It all points towards that now. As the season progresses, I think he will get better."
