Newbury and Deauville provide the focus on Saturday, with the former venue featuring one of the key seven-furlong contests of the season in the G2 BetVictor Hungerford S. Charlie Appleby has a pair engaged with William Buick settling for the unexposed 4-year-old Al Suhail (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who reverts to this trip for the first time since his juvenile days. Third in the nine-furlong G1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan Mar. 6, the half-brother to Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) was in the same spot in the G2 Summer Mile at Ascot July 10 with his stamina looking to ebb late on. “We were delighted with Al Suhail's first start back in the UK at Ascot, finishing third over the mile in soft conditions,” his trainer said. “Dropping back to seven furlongs I feel will suit him–he travels very well through his races. He's definitely come forward for that run and we feel the style of the race on Saturday will suit, so there are plenty of positives going into the race with him.”
Shadwell's silks are also carried by a duo, with the Owen Burrows-trained Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) having won Ascot's International H. over this trip July 24 where the Richard Hannon-trained impressive Bunbury Cup hero Motakhayyel (GB) (Heeraat {Ire}) was back in sixth under top weight. “It was a big performance at Ascot, but it was only a handicap and we'll see where we sit now against these group horses,” Burrows said of the former. “He'd been fourth in the Lincoln, second in the Spring Mile and second at Royal Ascot to a filly who has since won a listed race and didn't run bad at all in a Group 3 at Goodwood from a wide draw. We were giving her plenty of weight at the Royal meeting and she's been able to mix it up in stakes company, so fingers crossed he can do the same.”
There was no fluke about the impressive G3 Valiant S. of Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and if the Ed Walker trainee can improve on her 4 1/2-length defeat of the smart Lights On (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), subsequent listed scorer Waliyak (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Indigo Girl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in that Ascot contest July 23 she will pose a major threat to the colts and geldings. Another filly in the mix is Cheveley Park Stud's Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who took the G3 Nell Gwyn S. over this trip at Newmarket Apr. 14 and has been waiting for fast ground ever since her subsequent seventh when a non-stayer in the May 2 G1 1000 Guineas there.
At Deauville, the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano Haras du Logis Saint-Germain sees 'TDN Rising Star' Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) bid to emulate the operation's Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who came from Britain to score here in 2019. The John and Thady Gosden-trained half-brother to Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was run down late by Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the Listed Steventon S. over this 10-furlong trip at Newbury July 17. Godolphin, Ecurie des Monceaux and Ecurie Skymarc Farm's June 20 G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Philomene (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of two to represent the owners alongside the Apr. 13 Listed Feilden S. winner Highland Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Lisa-Jane Graffard said of the former, “Philomene is in great form and Andre Fabre has been very happy with her progress since the Prix de Diane. This looks a good option for her as a springboard to an autumn campaign.” Charlie Appleby added of the visitor, “We have been looking forward to stepping Highland Avenue up in trip and his preparation has gone well. He has yet to prove himself at this level, but we feel that he is a group horse in the making. He has done well physically since Ascot and looks a proper mature horse now.”
Gerard Augustin-Normand's June 6 G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Millebosc (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) returns off a break to try and give his country something to shout about come the Arc, while Pretty Tiger (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) who was sixth in that June 6 Chantilly Classic has since collected the G2 Prix Eugene Adam over this trip at Saint-Cloud July 4. That form received a boost when the runner-up Caprice Des Dieux (Fr) (Declaration of War) was subsequently an impressive winner of the Listed Prix Pelleas at Compiegne July 27.
Also on the card is the G3 Prix de Lieurey over a mile, where Ivan Furtado's stable star Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) represents the red-hot form of the G1 Falmouth S., having been sixth and beaten just over two lengths in that Newmarket feature July 9. Back at Newbury, the G3 BetVictor Geoffrey Freer S. over an extended 13 furlongs sees Shadwell's 2021 winner Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) look for a repeat having taken York's G3 Silver Cup July 10. His trainer Owen Burrows said, “He was in at Goodwood the other day, but we've waited for this race and, touch wood, he's in great form. He'll have to carry a three-pound penalty, but there isn't really a suitable Group 2 option for him in Britain. I'm actually going to enter him in the [G2] Grand Prix de Deauville at the end of the month.” In the opening Academy Insurance British EBF Maiden S. over a mile and a half, the June 5 G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) will be the day's shortest-priced favourite as he bids to shed his unwanted tag ahead of a return to much bigger things.
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