Remarkably, all four QIPCO British Champions Series middle distance victories so far this season were awarded an identical rating of 124 by the official BHA handicapper, putting Nathaniel (Coral-Eclipse), St Nicholas Abbey (Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup sponsored by Investec), Camelot (Investec Derby) and the now retired So You Think (Prince of Wales's Stakes) in a theoretical photo-finish had they raced against each other, leaving aside the race distance variations.
Nathaniel and St Nicholas Abbey clash in a top class King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Sponsored by Betfair, the fifth race in the Middle Distance category, at Ascot on Saturday.
With the fantastic strength-in-depth of the race, which includes the winners of top races in the UK, France, the USA, Australia and Japan, it will surely take a performance of above 124 to win it.
Last year's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, Danedream, gained a rating of 128 from that brilliant performance in Paris, two pounds above the 126 that Nathaniel earned for his Betfair King George victory 12 months ago and four above St Nicholas Abbey's 124 gained in the Breeders' Cup Turf, a figure he matched at Epsom in June.
Sea Moon has now also attained a mark of 124 with his fine victory in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, while Reliable Man achieved 122 when winning the Qatar Prix Niel last year, though he has failed to match that this season so far.
The rest have something to find, but last year's Melbourne Cup winner, Dunaden, looked unlucky in the Hardwicke and is very likely capable of more than his rating of 118, while sole three-year-old Deep Brillante, also currently rated 118 in Japan, clearly has the scope for improvement.
The Nathaniel-St Nicholas Abbey clash could also have a significant bearing on the Trainer and Jockey of the Series tables, with John Gosden and William Buick, represented by Nathaniel, having the chance to further close the gap on Aidan and Joseph O'Brien, who team up with St Nicholas Abbey.
QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES MIDDLE DISTANCE PERFORMANCE TABLE (after 4 races)
|
HORSE
|
RACE
|
PERFORMANCE RATING
|
|
1= Camelot
|
Investec Derby
|
124
|
|
1= Nathaniel
|
Coral-Eclipse Stakes
|
124
|
|
1= So You Think
|
Prince of Wales's Stakes
|
124
|
|
1= St Nicholas Abbey
|
Investec Coronation Cup
|
124
|
|
5 Farhh
|
Coral-Eclipse Stakes
|
122
|
|
6 Carlton House
|
Prince of Wales's Stakes
|
119
|
|
7 Twice Over
|
Coral-Eclipse Stakes
|
117
|
|
8 Red Cadeaux
|
Investec Coronation Cup
|
116
|
|
9= Main Sequence
|
Investec Derby
|
115
|
|
9= Astrology
|
Investec Derby
|
115
|
|
11 Masked Marvel
|
Investec Coronation Cup
|
111
|