[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Hwjb

That's some thorough research, good work!

However, I have to query some of your conclusions.

Sleeping Indian is lightly-raced for a five-year-old and hasn't been the easiest to train. Seven furlongs in Europe would appear to be his optimum trip, for all that he ran with great credit when 5th in last year's Sussex and not discredited in filling the same position in the QEII. He won twice over a mile at 3, however, and I fancy that the eighth furlong around the extremely tight American tracks could be right up his street. His effort in the Foret on his penultimate outing is readily forgiven as everything went against him and, given that he made his reappearance as late as September, it is far from inconceivable that he can find more. His ability to race close up should hold him in good stead.
It would be silly to read anything into Araafa's win rate. He is evidently a far better three-year-old than he was at 2, his 2,000 Guineas run representing rock solid form. His defeat of George Washington in the Curragh proved his ability to handle heavy going and at Royal Ascot he showed himself to be equally effective on quicker ground with an impressive victory in the St James's Palace. It is glaringly obvious that Alan Munro was loathed to give Dettori (on Echo of Light) too much rope up fron in the Sussex, both as a result setting off far too fast. Both were shot to bits over a furlong out and can be forgiven the run (araafa also reportedly returned a little sore). We have Araafa's second to George Washington as his career-best effort, 3-lb in advance of the St James's win. He travelled strongly throughout, leading for much of the final 2f until George blew by. Without that opponent here he should be a deserving favourite, like Sleeping Indian his prominent style of racing should be beneficial with such a short straight.

Those 3yo races for Sleeping Indian were a maiden and a listed race, both far below the level he's facing here. It is of interest to me to look at the comment lines for his last five races (not including the trouble filled Foret):

10/14-7f...led over 2f out, held well
9/15-7f.....rallied to lead 1f out, held gamely
10/15/05-7f.......led over 1f out, headed 170y out
9/24/05.-8f....weakened final furlong
9/8/05-7f......led 1f out, caught on line

It also has the comment "faded" for the 8f Sussex last year. To me, when I see the running styles of the other contenders, Aragorn, Librettist, Araafa, and even Echo of Light, they all seem to have the same one and would be in the same position as Sleeping Indian going around that final turn and he doesn't seem to have the same finishing power as the others do.

I don't say that he's totally without a shot here but he's the longest shot of the Euros for me. I do respect Gosden having watched him for years here in Southern Cali but I think this one is in just a big over his head. Perhaps in a smaller field, I'd give him more of a shot.