Tag: Stradivarius

Stradivarius Makes It Look Easy In Doncaster Cup

It was the simplest of assignments for a modern day great on Town Moor, as John Gosden's star stayer made light of the Doncaster Cup field.

Stradivarius backed up his hard-fought victory at York with another win, although today he barely had to break into 4th gear.

He began the day a heavy-favorite, with Trueshan, his archrival in the staying division, declared a non-runner with the rain coming too late for him to take his chance. The short odds were justified as he turned the Group 2 into a procession.

The Grand Visir took them round at a medium gallop, with Frankie Dettori happy to sit in fourth off the lead for much of the first circuit. The field content to maintain their positions for much of the way round turning into the straight.

With the leader beginning to tire, all eyes were on Frankie and Stradivarius, the former motionless as he bided his time. Jamie Spencer loomed to his right, looking to cover any potential move. Bute still Dettori waited.

As they came to three furlongs out, there was a casual look around from the pilot for dangers, before he engaging his mount for a challenge. Stradivarius then sauntered to the lead and when Frankie said go, the response was instant.

Stradivarius utilized his trademark turn of foot and in a matter of strides the race was won. He glided across the Doncaster turf to the joy of the crowd. All was left to take care of was Dettori's customary flying dismount and more cheers ensued. The simplest of wins.

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Another Day At The Office For “Strad”

Friday at Doncaster's St Leger festival means Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), and after John and Thady Gosden and Frankie Dettori's Group 2 double and a treble overall on Thursday the tide is rising for the esteemed combo as the G2 Doncaster Cup looms. Bjorn Nielsen's golden boy of the staying scene since 2018 needs no introduction and this special week on Town Moor is there for turf's icons such as him to enjoy widespread adulation. If there were any doubts as to the appetite of the 7-year-old, those were dispelled in York's G2 Lonsdale Cup Aug. 20, where one of the chief younger stayers Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) was unable to subdue him after a prolonged pugilistic tussle. This task could be made far simpler by the removal of the ground-dependant July 27 G1 Goodwood Cup winner Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and with the way the weather is heading, that looks a likely scenario.

Dettori is relishing the opportunity to do battle in front of the crowds once again. “He's been great for the sport, I love him dearly,” he said. “He got a tremendous reception at York and he'll probably get one at Doncaster. He's not going to be here forever, so let's enjoy him. I think he only does what needs to be done these days and as for tactics, I usually improvise with him and play it by ear. Luckily, he knows where the winning post is.”

Trueshan was taken out of the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Lonsdale Cup and trainer Alan King is ready to pull him from this test if the rain fails to come. “I won't get up to walk the course, because I'm at Sandown tomorrow and I've been at the sales all day today,” he explained. “If the current forecast of very little rain is correct then he won't run, unfortunately but I will just wait until the morning to make the decision. We needed plenty of rain and it did look promising at one stage that we might get it, but we wouldn't run him as it is.”

Surprisingly, given the weight-for-age scenario, few 3-year-olds have been asked to tackle this near 18-furlong test but there have been a trio of winners in that age group since 1990 including the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Alleluia (GB) (Caerleon) in 2001. The master of Heath House is involved again here, with Kirsten Rausing's unexposed Alerta Roja (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) who gets a huge 18 pounds from Stradivarius and 20 from Trueshan with the penalties added in. Whether the relative of Alleluia is up to this level remains to be seen, with her only try in black-type company being a latest second in the 14-furlong Listed Hoppegartener Steher-Preis Aug. 8, but she is a fascinating contender from one of the most astute yards in Europe.

“Alerta Roja is wonderfully tough and she's already exceeded what we thought was possible for her,” Prescott commented. “On the figures she doesn't have a chance, but we did win it with Alleluia who was very similar and was also a 3-year-old filly. Alleluia won five and this one, who is from the same family, has won three and been listed-placed. While ostensibly she's got no chance, she seems in good form and she gets a lot of weight. Nothing is impossible with this family.”

Preceding the marathon encounter is the five-furlong G2 Wainwright Flying Childers S. for juveniles, offering a contrast rarely so wide in such a short space of time on a racecard. Al Shaqab Racing's Armor (GB) (No Nay Never) will be looking to regain the winning thread after his fourth in the six-furlong G1 Prix Morny at Deauville Aug. 22, where he may have run out of gas late having dominated the quick five of Goodwood's G3 Molecomb S. July 28. Among his rivals is Nick Bradley Racing's Sept. 2 G3 Prix d'Arenberg-winning filly Corazon (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}) and Clipper Logistics' Aug. 21 Listed Roses S. scorer Attagirl (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

In the Listed Cazoo Flying Scotsman S., Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's 'TDN Rising Star' Razzle Dazzle (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) bids to build on his 5 1/2-length success over this seven-furlong trip at Newmarket Aug. 27. Ahmad Al Shaikh's Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}), who captured the Aug. 20 Convivial Maiden at York, offers stern opposition in this often-informative affair along with Shadwell's impressive Aug. 11 Salisbury six-furlong novice scorer Ribhi (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Oisin Murphy said of Hoo Ya Mal, who hails from the Andrew Balding stable strong with their 2-year-olds this season. “He's a gorgeous horse who bolted up in the Convivial at York,” he said. “His work before then was good and though he probably wants to go a mile, hopefully he'll have sharpened up since his last run. I have a high opinion of him and hope he'll be bang there.”

Thursday saw the draws for Saturday's key contests, with Ballydoyle's St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) set to take on The Aga Khan's Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) and Jim Bolger's Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and just one other in what is certain to be a tactical renewal of Leopardstown's G1 Irish Champion S. As he suggested earlier this month, Aidan O'Brien has taken out all other entries for the 10-furlong contest, which is made up by last year's G3 Meld S. winner Patrick Sarsfield (Fr) (Australia {GB}). Small and select fields have been the order of the day in 2021, with the G1 Eclipse S. and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. attracting no more than five runners so this feature fits in with that trend and presents a fascinating quandary for Ryan Moore, Colin Keane and Kevin Manning. In contrast, there will be 13 fillies lining up in the G1 Coolmore America “Justify” Matron S. where Ballydoyle's G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Prix Rothschild winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) will be a warm order.

At Doncaster the same afternoon, the G1 Cazoo St Leger will see Godolphin's G1 Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) face nine rivals including Amo Racing's G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Aidan O'Brien has confirmed a quartet including 'TDN Rising Star' High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the unexposed Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will sport the Peter Brant silks. Frankie Dettori is on the supplemented High Definition, with Wayne Lordan partnering the G2 Great Voltigeur S. runner-up The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), James Doyle on that race's fourth Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Hollie Doyle aboard the Aug. 12 Listed Vinnie Roe S. winner Interpretation.

Having impressed with two prior front-running rides for Ballydoyle including a third in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks on the 150-1 outsider La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), it was no surprise to see Hollie Doyle booked for one of the team's contenders here. “It's a great ride to pick up. He looks highly progressive and is unbeaten this year,” she said. “He's certain to stay and it's my first ride in the Leger and I'm really looking forward to it.” They help to make up a six-strong Irish representation in the extended 14-furlong Classic, with Johnny Murtagh looking for a breakthrough English Classic success with the G3 Gordon S. winner Ottoman Emperor (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}).

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The Weekly Wrap: It’s Good To Be Back

There are banners along the High Street of my home town of Newmarket saying 'Welcome back to racing'. Though we've been fortunate in England to have been able to allow crowds gradually to return to racecourses earlier than some other countries, it has only really been in the last few weeks that it has felt like the proper pre-pandemic experience. And where better to have the people back in force than at York, widely regarded by many to be the best racecourse in the country?

Any amount of time spent on the Knavesmire is time well spent indeed, and you really could have picked any of the days of the Ebor meeting to be able to enjoy a proper feature race with intrigue and stars aplenty. Even the queue for the bus to the track from the train station provided a level of fun. A group of men of advanced years huddled together like schoolboys, copies of the Racing Post tucked under their arms, clearly relishing the prospect of a midweek day at the races. When the bus arrived, they rushed for the long bench seat at the back, always the preserve of the naughtiest in class, and with a full load of passengers chattering about their fancies for the day, our chariot trundled off to the track. 

Clarehaven Resurgent

Thady Gosden's name was added to his father's training licence just ahead of the start of the turf season in Britain and though the stable played a less prominent role in the Classics than is usually to be expected, it has now clicked into top gear. 

A stellar run was launched eight days ago in Deauville, where Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) landed his second G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, swiftly followed by the G3 Prix Minerve victory for George Strawbridge's Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Further big guns were wheeled out for York, with the mighty Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) sparking endless 'Is he the best in the world?' debates with his visually impressive first Group 1 victory in Britain in the Juddmonte International. 

Whether he is the best or not will be settled at the end of the year in the international rankings–and even then the debate will likely rage on. What can be said with some certainty is that Mishriff is the most versatile at the highest level, with his wins coming on the Riyadh dirt track over nine furlongs in the Saudi Cup, the Meydan turf over 12 furlongs, and now 10.5 furlongs at York, not forgetting his Classic win at Chantilly last season. Victory at the Breeders' Cup–or even in Japan, as has been mooted, with that tempting $3 million bonus on offer–would go a long way to settling the argument once and for all.

While Palace Pier and Mishriff have strong claims to being the best in their divisions, the king of the stayers is still Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). It is to be hugely regretted that the half-brothers Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) are both sidelined with injuries as this has undoubtedly weakened the staying division in the second half of the season. But the 7-year-old stallion Stradivarius proved that even if the years have blunted his game a little, he has lost none of his will to win. Arguably, he's at his best when he has to knuckle down and fight, and this is exactly what he did when dispatching the Yorkshire Cup winner Spanish Mission (Noble Mission) on his return to the Knavesmire. 

With a race record that now includes three Ascot Gold Cups, four Goodwood Cups, three Lonsdale Cups, two Yorkshire Cups and a Doncaster Cup, Stradivarius is truly one of the modern wonders of the Flat scene. We must continue to enjoy him while we can.

Arise, Sir John?

We already have Sir Mark and Sir Michael in Newmarket; could Sir John be next? If the Gosdens manage to turn the impressive G3 Solario S. winner Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) into a Classic winner for his breeder The Queen in her Platinum Jubilee year then surely a further mention in the honours' list could be on the cards for Gosden senior, who was awarded an OBE in 2017.

The Queen was just 25 when she acceded to the British throne in  February 1952. Her coronation took place the following June, on what would have been Derby day, with the great race moved back to the Saturday to allow for the royal festivities. The celebrations within the royal household would have been greater still had the Queen's Derby contender Aureole (GB) not been beaten into second by Pinza (GB). More recently, the Queen's colours have been carried in the Derby by the Darley-bred Carlton House, a gift from Sheikh Mohammed, who was third behind Pour Moi (Ire) in 2011. Who would begrudge racing's greatest patron a Derby winner in the year she celebrates her extraordinary longevity as monarch? 

Bred on the Sea The Stars-Sadler's Wells cross, Reach For The Moon's pedigree echoes that of the former Gosden trainee and Oaks winner Taghrooda (GB), and the Solario has good form of late for being won by some pretty special horses, including the Gosden-trained trio of Raven's Pass, Kingman (GB) and Too Darn Hot (GB), not to mention the 2018 Derby winner Masar (Ire).

Next June is an awful long way off in racing terms, but the prospect of Reach For The Moon giving the sport widespread publicity during the year-long jubilee celebrations is an enticing one.

The form of the Chesham S. now has a pleasingly solid look to it, with Reach For The Moon and Great Max (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who finished second and third to Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), each finishing one place better in the Solario, while the Chesham winner continued his unbeaten passage with victory in the G2 Galileo Irish EBF Futurity S., having previously landed the G3 JRA Tyros S. The Chesham fifth Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) has gone on to win the Listed Denford S., and the seventh-placed New Science (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) subsequently returned to Ascot to win the Listed Pat Eddery S.

Power Play

Fillies filled four of the first six places in the G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S., and while Suesa (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) was favoured to follow up on her Goodwood triumph, it was Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) who went the early pace with Wesley Ward's Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), surging straight as an arrow down the centre of the track. As the American raider weakened and wobbled from his early blitz, Winter Power continued to blast home unchallenged to set the seal on a memorable week for her trainer Tim Easterby at one of his local tracks.

There was doubtless much celebration across the Irish Sea in various households of the Burns family, too. For her breeder Patrick Burns it was both a wonderful triumph and huge update for the full-brother to Winter Power that his Newlands House Stud is preparing to send to the Goffs Orby Sale. And for Patrick's brother Maurice, Winter Power became the first Group 1 winner for her speedy sire Bungle Inthejungle, who stands at the family's Rathasker Stud.

Good Week For Coolmore Clan

Wootton Bassett, who lent his name to the Nunthorpe, also enjoyed some success on the Knavesmire with two stakes-winning juveniles. Royal Patronage (Fr) may have been the least fancied of the quintet who lined up for the G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. but he has progressed nicely from his novice win at Epsom to give trainer Mark Johnston back-to-back wins in the race following the victory of Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) last year.

On Saturday it was the turn of Steve Parkin's homebred Attagirl (GB), conceived while Wootton Bassett was still standing in France but born and trained in Yorkshire. She bounced out of her narrow defeat the previous week in the listed St Hugh's S. at Newbury to land the listed Julia Graves Roses S., doubtless giving her breeder extra cause for celebration at his favourite meeting of the year. 

Wootton Bassett's week was just a nostril away from ending on a high when his star daughter Audarya (Fr) was denied her second win in the G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet when Grand Glory (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) snatched victory from her on the line in Deauville.

Caravaggio moved from Coolmore's Irish base to Ashford Stud for the most recent stud season but he is creeping up the freshman sires' table in Europe with three stakes winners to his name already, including Saturday's smooth G2 Debutante S. winner Agartha (Ire).

He's not the only son of Scat Daddy on a roll as No Nay Never is enjoying a terrific season, with Alcohol Free (Ire) as his 3-year-old poster girl and the increasingly impressive G2 Lowther S. winner Zain Claudette (Ire) the star of his juvenile crop.

Ho Ho Ho

Tally-Ho Stud is an unstoppable force this season, both as breeder and stallion master. Having had the record-breaking champion first-season sire of 2020 in Mehmas (Ire), who was represented by another top-flight winner over the weekend in the Nicky Hartery-bred GI Del Mar Oaks winner Going Global (Ire), Tally-Ho must now be odds-on to have this year's leading freshman sire.

Whether it will be Galileo Gold (GB) or Cotai Glory (GB) is hard to say. The latter is forging ahead with 23 winners, but Galileo Gold was the first of his peers to notch that all-important Group 1 winner. His leading son Ebro River (Ire), winner of the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S., was bred by Tally-Ho Stud, as was Lusail (Ire), who gave Mehmas back-to-back winners of the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack S. and is owned, like Ebro River, by Al Shaqab Racing, which also campaigned the sires of both youngsters.

Further top-level success came on Sunday in the G1 Darley Prix Morny with the Tally-Ho-bred Perfect Power (Ire), who became a first Group 1 winner for his sire Ardad (Ire). Though Ardad is not a Tally-Ho stallion–he stands at Overbury Stud in England –he was however bred by the O'Callaghan family and reflects further glory on the Tally-Ho team as he is a son of its headline stallion Kodiac (GB).

The latter in turn is the sire of the Tally-Ho-bred G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Campanelle (Ire), who was also the winner of last season's Prix Morny. It is a race which has been a particularly successful one for Tally-Ho Stud, which also bred the 2008 winner Bushranger (Ire) and Unfortunately (Ire), who landed the 2017 running of the Morny. Those two colts were also by Tally-Ho stallions, the late Danetime (Ire) and Society Rock (Ire) respectively.

 

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A Friday To Savour At York

Friday's action at York exemplifies the great diversity of European racing, with the lengthy spectacle of the G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup followed just over an hour later by the untamed velocity of the G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. While vastly contrasting in distance and style, both races which represent important links in the chain of the European Pattern have one major factor in common and that is the ability to showcase the people's most beloved equine characters. Very few of those who descend on York's famous “Knavesmire” need an introduction to the marvel that is Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who bids to provide more joy to Messrs Nielsen, Gosden and Dettori in the two-miler that acts as part of Britain's longstanding “Cup” series of staying races. One of Europe's more rapid speed tests, the Nunthorpe lacks an established sprinter this year popular with the attendees but it hosts some young guns with the potential to come back in years to come.

This year's renewal of the five-furlong dash is dominated by the 3-year-olds, with Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg's Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) bidding for compensation for a narrow defeat on his previous visit to Britain in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot last June. Since that reversal, the colt rated by Wesley Ward as potentially the best he has trained has been gradually honed across the Atlantic, annexing Keeneland's GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and the GIII Quick Call S. at Saratoga July 15. His pioneering trainer needs no reminding of the slim defeat of his star turn Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) in the 2017 renewal, two years after Acapulco (Scat Daddy) was also denied in this contest, and so a win from Golden Pal would be a case of amends made. “Our guy has really travelled over very well and has done everything right to this point–I'm very, very pleased and happy,” he said. “I'm happy with the rider and the horse and the race conditions here at York. I can't have anything right now that I can see is going in the wrong direction. We're all smiles and we'll see what happens on Friday afternoon.”

Electric in the G2 King George S. July 30, George Strawbridge's Suesa (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) will be waiting to pick off Golden Pal and the ultra-fast 3-year-old filly Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) and it may be that this is perfectly teed up for her with all that pace laid on ahead. If able to reproduce her emphatic three-length dismissal of Yoshiro Kubota's 'TDN Rising Star' Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in the Goodwood sprint, she is out on her own in terms of form standard which features only one defeat when a combination of heavy ground and six-furlong trip were against her in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot June 18. “All is well,” trainer Francois Rohaut said of Suesa. “We gave her chance to recover after Goodwood. She hasn't worked that much, she didn't need to. It is one of the best races and we have to forget Ascot. It was the ground there and probably the hill was too much for her. William Buick did the right thing with her that day when he eased her in the final furlong. I am not worried about the track and the ground will be probably good, good-to-firm. She looks nice and hopefully she can repeat her Goodwood performance.”

Dragon Symbol, who can hardly be described as one who the fortunes favour, was demoted behind Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in that dramatic Commonwealth Cup on the day of the storm at Royal Ascot and has been dogged by unsuitably rain-eased ground on three of his last four outings. His subsequent second placings behind Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket July 10 and Suesa in the King George were hard-fought and may have left their mark, but if that is not the case then this flat terrain will play to his strengths. “Dragon Symbol is very versatile with regard to the ground and I think he goes on anything,” trainer Archie Watson commented. “It was heavy at Ascot and softish at Goodwood, but it was quick ground when he chased home Starman in the July Cup so it won't be a problem if it dries out by Friday. I thought he travelled very well at Goodwood, down in trip, but unfortunately two longshot pacemakers came back in his lap. By the time he had got out, he was on the wrong part of the track compared to the winner. I've no issues about taking Suesa on again and I don't think it's unrealistic to think we might turn the tables.”

One who thrives on this track and trip is King Power's Winter Power, with her two runs over it this term eliciting impressive wins in the May 13 Listed Westow S. and July 10 Listed City Walls S. Trainer Tim Easterby was at pains after the latter contest to stress that she needs to learn to do marginally less in the first part of her races and the mastermind behind past sprint supremos Pipalong (Ire) (Pips Pride {GB}), Somnus (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Fayr Jag (Ire) (Fayruz {GB}) has had over a month to work on that. “She's in great form,” he said. “I'm very happy with the draw [in six]. She hasn't been pushed to her limits yet. I'm very happy with her and the ground will be perfect for her.  She's a natural runner and we won't be doing anything fancy with her. She's not a hold-up horse and doesn't have to make the running and she hits the line strong, that's the main thing. You don't want to be kicking for home three from home or you won't win. She's absolutely bang on–she couldn't be better.”

More languid pleasure is available earlier on the card, with Stradivarius returning to the course at which he is unbeaten in four starts during his illustrious career. Denied a run in the G1 Goodwood Cup he had come to own, he has garnered two editions of the 14-furlong G2 Yorkshire Cup and wrapped up the £1million bonus on offer by the Lonsdale Cup's sponsors Weatherbys Hamilton in the 2018 and 2019 runnings of this race. Given that he was denied a clear run when a well-beaten fourth in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot June 17, any predictions that he has lost his potency remain premature and this will address the doubts one way or the other. “We're going to York, a track he knows well, on ground he likes,” John Gosden commented. “He's in great form. We're very aware that he's not as young as he used to be, but then neither is the trainer or the jockey. If he runs well then I'm happy to have a look at the Doncaster Cup, then you can see how you want to play it. He's still enjoying his training, is enthusiastic as ever, but I'm taking it one race at a time.”

Alan King has yet to commit to Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) running under his three-pound penalty, given his predilection for the testing conditions he made light of in the July 27 G1 Goodwood Cup robbed of its reigning monarch. “The horse has gone up and we'll see in the morning,” he said on Thursday. “He's in very good order, but there's no point saying any more at this stage.” Also taken out of the Goodwood Cup along with Stradivarius was Team Valor and Gary Barber's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}), who was third in the Gold Cup having won the most recent renewal of the Yorkshire Cup here May 14. “The weather forecast looks good for Spanish Mission if the rain holds off and he's in good form,” trainer Andrew Balding said. “Obviously Stradivarius and Trueshan are tough opponents, but Spanish Mission was good in the Yorkshire Cup and a bit of course form helps. This has been the intention for a while and hopefully he'll run well.”

Also on York's card is the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. for the 2-year-olds, in which Al Shaqab Racing's Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) carries a three-pound penalty along with the June 15 G2 Coventry S. scorer Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Lusail beat the subsequent G2 Richmond S. winner Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and the G1 Phoenix S. hero Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) in the G2 July S. over this six-furlong trip at Newmarket July 8, while Berkshire Shadow may have been outstayed when runner-up in the seven-furlong G2 Vintage S. on soft ground at Goodwood July 27.

Richard Hannon said of Lusail, “The form of his win in the July S. couldn't have worked out any better and that obviously gives us plenty of confidence. The good thing about Lusail is that he's incredibly easy to train. He isn't flashy in his work, but neither is Snow Lantern yet he seems to come alive on the race track and he already has experience at York having won on debut. This is no 'gimme', but there's no doubt he has the best form coming into it and we'll obviously be disappointed if he doesn't go close to winning.”

Soft ground at Goodwood may have played against Clarendon Thoroughbred Racing's Fearby (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) as he was brushed aside by Lusail's stablemate Armor (GB) (No Nay Never) in the five-furlong G3 Molecomb S. July 28. He was impressive on good-to-soft on his prior start when the five-length winner of the Listed Dragon S. over that trip at Sandown July 2 and trainer Edward Bethell is hoping he can find improvement upped in trip. “He goes there in really good form,” he said. “I think the step up to six will hopefully be in his favour and we're going there hopeful. He's not ground-dependent, he'll run whatever the ground and I think a fast ground six will be better than a soft-ground six.”

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