Sir Michael Stoute is happy to let Crystal Ocean and Poet's Word do battle for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

The master of Freemason Lodge has saddled a joint-record five previous winners of the midsummer showpiece and this year's twin assault gives him a strong chance of going ahead of Dick Hern and Saeed bin Suroor by becoming the most successful outright trainer in the race's history.

Crystal Ocean and Poet's Word are vying for favouritism following their respective triumphs at Royal Ascot and Stoute admits it is difficult to split the pair.

He said: "They have separate owners and it's a logical race for both of them mid-season."

"The official handicapper has 1lb between them, so there's not a lot between them and we don't work them together at home."

"They're very easy and straightforward horses. There's nothing complex about either colt."

Crystal Ocean claimed his third victory from as many starts this season with a dominant display in last month's Hardwicke Stakes and returns to the highest level for the first time since he was narrowly denied Classic glory by Capri in last season's St Leger.

Stoute said: "Crystal Ocean has won all three of his starts this year and he's won at Ascot over the course and distance."

"We ran him in the Leger last year the owner-breeder was very keen and liked that idea. I didn't think he'd quite get the trip and I think he didn't quite get the trip. He looked like the winner all the way down the straight and just ran out of petrol. He'll never go beyond a mile and a half again."

"The ground may be fast, but actually he's impervious to ground, so I'm not concerned about that."

"He's entitled to go and take his chance, for sure."

Poet's Word already has a Group 1 victory to his name, having lowered the colours of Cracksman in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Although that career-best performance came over a mile and a quarter, Stoute is confident his charge is just as effective over the mile and a half.

He added: "That would have been his (Poet's Word's) best performance to date, in the Prince of Wales's. The second (Cracksman) may not have been at his best, but even so, the others were a long way back. It was a good performance."

"He ran very well in the Sheema Classic (over a mile and a half), too, so he is effective over that trip as well."

"He has been recording high levels of form and seems versatile in terms of distance 10 or 12 furlongs. He has won at the track, too, and his preparation has gone well."

When asked if he was excited by the prospect of a potentially historic win, Stoute said: "Excitement may not be the right word I just want to get them both to Ascot on Saturday in one piece. I am looking forward to the race."

"It is a very high-level race and is always competitive. My horses have decent form and are first and second favourite. They may not finish first and second, but they are entitled to be in there."