Nathaniel to oppose St Nicholas Abbey Last year's winner Nathaniel heads a field of 10 for Saturday's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. The Betfair-sponsored Group One really lives up to its midsummer highlight billing, with seven of the field already winners at the highest level. John Gosden's Nathaniel won the Coral-Eclipse just two weeks ago but the Clarehaven handler has been delighted with his charge since and lets him take his chance. St Nicholas Abbey is Aidan O'Brien's main hope having won a second Coronation Cup last month. He will be joined by stablemate Robin Hood, who is likely to adopt pacemaking duties. Sir Michael Stoute is aiming to become the winning-most trainer in the history of the race with Sea Moon, who won the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot en-route, just like his last winner Harbinger. Melbourne Cup hero Dunaden, judged by many to be unlucky in the Hardwicke, tackles Sea Moon again. Danedream, last year's surprise Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, represents Germany while Deep Brillante has travelled over from Japan. Tom Dascombe's Brown Panther, part-owned by former England striker Michael Owen, runs, as does Ladbrokes St Leger winner Masked Marvel, a strong second-string to Gosden's bow. Alain de Royer-Dupre's Reliable Man, winner of the French Derby twelve months ago, completes the field. Ryan Moore believes Sea Moon has to find a bit more on his Hardwicke Stakes victory over the course and distance last month to shake up some of the fancied horses. "This year you've got the Melbourne Cup winner, the Arc winner, Japanese Derby winner, St Nicholas Abbey, Nathaniel - it's a very strong race," the jockey told At The Races. "He was impressive at Ascot, but he's got to step up a bit more to trouble the favourites here. "He's in good shape and he's got scope for a bit more improvement hopefully. "The Ascot race was run at a sound gallop. There was one hard-luck story. The other horse (Dunaden) may have been unlucky and we will find out at the weekend. "St Nicholas Abbey has been very good this year so far. People were quick to write him off, but he's four won Group Ones and has shown the last couple of years what a high-class horse he is." Connections of Deep Brilliante are optimistic of a good run from the Japanese Derby winner. "There was no problem in the shipment of this horse from Japan," trainer Yoshito Yahagi said through an interpreter. "As he is the only three-year-old in the race, the weight for age difference is a big advantage to him. "The tactics in the race will depend on what the jockey has to do. We hope the race will have a decent pace. "We came over to improve the standard of Japanese horse racing. We are trying him at the this level because he is the best horse I have ever trained."
