USA-based trainer Brendan Walsh insists it would be “quite something” if he could re-establish his links with Newmarket and saddle Extravagant Kid to glory in the Darley July Cup at Saturday's Moet & Chandon July Festival.
Having spent time working in the town for Godolphin and former trainer Mark Wallace before heading to America, Walsh will now bid to capture the prestigious six furlong Group One on Saturday, July 10 with the globetrotting 8-year-old.
The Kiss The Kid gelding took his form to new heights earlier this year when capturing the Group One Al Quoz Sprint over six furlongs at Meydan in March ahead of finishing third back over five furlongs in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 15.
With a return to six furlongs not expected to pose any problems for Extravagant Kid, who is currently housed at Abingdon Place Stables in Newmarket, the Kentucky-based handler is confident he can make his presence felt.
“I spent a lot of time working in Newmarket back in the day as I worked three or four summers for Godolphin then four years for Mark Wallace before that so I know the place very well,” said Walsh.
“I always liked the July Meeting and it would be quite something if I could go back there and win the July Cup with this lad.
“I don't think going back up to six furlongs will be a negative. Although it is a little stiffer than Dubai, you are going downhill a lot of the way. It is probably as far as he needs to go but I think he will be fine.
“We gave him plenty of time to get over his travelling turnaround but you would think he would be in a better position now having had that run at Ascot.”
Extravagant Kid will again have the services of top jockey Frankie Dettori, who rode the gelding at Royal Ascot.
Up until this year Extravagant Kid had been campaigned exclusively in North America, but Walsh believes his recent spell racing abroad has helped rejuvenate his career.
He added: “The first target this year was Dubai and that worked out well so we thought why not go to Ascot now and now here we are.
“He ran really well at Ascot and justified us taking him there. I think that was a tougher spot than Dubai. He showed he belonged there and I was happy with him.
“Travelling with him is a new dimension and he seems to like it. It has brought out the best in him. As an older horse travelling just adds something a bit different.
“He is eight now and is probably in his prime. He is not going to be up to this standard forever so we will just enjoy it.”
There are 23 confirmations for the Darley July Cup, which takes place over six furlongs on the July Course and forms part of the British Champions Series.
Defending champion Oxted, from the Roger Teal yard, will bid to defend his Darley July Cup crown on the back of tasting victory in the King's Stand Stakes. If successful again in 2021, Oxted would become the first back to back since Right Boy in 1958/1959.
Charlie Appleby is responsible for two entries of Glorious Journey and Jersey Stakes scorer Creative Force.
Ed Walker is represented by impressive Duke Of York Stakes scorer Starman and Came From The Dark, while fellow Lambourn handler Archie Watson is another double handed after leaving in both Glen Shiel and Dragon Symbol.
Lope Y Fernandez could bid to give Aidan O'Brien a record breaking sixth victory in the race, is one of three remaining Irish-trained entrants that remain alongside the Ken Condon-trained Miss Amulet, and Thunder Moon (Joseph O'Brien), winner of the Group One Vincent O'Brien National Stakes last season.
THE DARLEY JULY CUP (Group 1) (British Champions Series)
Saturday, July 10
- Art Power (IRE) – Tim Easterby – King Power Racing Co Ltd – Silvestre De Sousa
- Brando – Kevin Ryan – Mrs Angie Bailey – Tom Eaves
- Chil Chil – Andrew Balding – King Power Racing Co Ltd – Rob Hornby
- Creative Force (IRE) – Charlie Appleby – Godolphin – William Buick
- Dragon Symbol – Archie Watson – Mr Yoshiro Kubota – Oisin Murphy
- Emaraaty Ana – Kevin Ryan – Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
- Extravagant Kid (USA) – Brendan Walsh – DARRS Inc. – Frankie Dettori
- Final Song (IRE) – Saeed bin Suroor – Godolphin
- Garrus (IRE) – Charles Hills – Mrs Susan Roy
- Glen Shiel – Archie Watson – Hambleton Racing XXXVI & Partner – Hollie Doyle
- Glorious Journey – Charlie Appleby – HH Sheikha Al Jalila Racing
- Good Effort (IRE) – Ismail Mohammed – Mr Abdulla Al Mansoori – Ray Dawson
- Line of Departure (IRE) – Roger Varian – H.H. Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa & F. Nass
- Lope Y Fernandez (IRE) – Aidan O'Brien – Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor
- Method (IRE) – Martyn Meade – Manton Park Racing – Sean Levey
- Miss Amulet (IRE) – K. J. Condon – Mrs Doreen Tabor
- Oxted – Roger Teal – S Piper, T. Hirschfeld, D. Fish & J. Collins – Cieren Fallon
- Rohaan (IRE) – David Evans – Chris Kiely Racing Ltd & Mr J Tomkins – Shane Kelly
- Starman – Ed Walker – David Ward – Tom Marquand
- Summerghand (IRE) – David O'Meara – Mr Hamad Rashed Bin Ghedayer
- Supremacy (IRE) – Clive Cox – Mr J Goddard – Adam Kirby
- Thunder Moon (IRE) – Joseph Patrick O'Brien – Mrs C. C. Regalado-Gonzalez
- Ventura Rebel – Richard Fahey – Mr Abdullah Menahi
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