“I think he is one of the best in the business,” said Menuisier of the veteran Frenchman. “He has the experience on his side, and he's ridden the filly as a 2-year-old when he won on her at Saint-Cloud.

“The plan was to keep him on last year. But I think it was a fracture of the jaw that sidelined him, so when she went to Longchamp [initially for the Prix de Thiberville last July] I had to use somebody else.

“Tony Piccone rode her–and because he rode her well, we kept the continuity. But Tony Piccone has gone to Hong Kong, and won't be back until October–and we felt it would be better to use somebody who, first of all, won the Arc several times. He's also ridden [in France] all year, and knows Longchamp like the back of his hand.”

Added the trainer, who is hoping to use Peslier in Wonderful Tonight's Arc prep races too, “I've known Olivier for 10 years. He's a friend, and I trust him 110% to do the job. Who wouldn't be keen [to ride Wonderful Tonight]? She has a live chance–well, we feel she's a live chance, in the Arc. Obviously he's delighted to have been called up.”

The 4-year-old filly is riding a four-racing winning streak, having triumphed in the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. at Goodwood on July 31. Her winning thread started with a 1 1/4-length victory in the G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp on Arc Day and continued in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. on Oct. 17. Resuming at Royal Ascot, Wonderful Tonight added the G2 Hardwicke S. to her haul on June 19.

Although her next targets have not been confirmed, the Aug. 19 G1 Yorkshire Oaks is a possibility and Peslier is likely to be aboard Menuisier's star pupil regardless of which contest is selected.

“It's part of the plan,” added Menuisier. “He's made himself available to ride the filly wherever she goes.

“Thinking of the big one down the line, I think it would be good if he could have sat on her at least once and, in an ideal world, twice before the Arc.

“I don't want the filly to have too many hard battles before the big day–so she'll get to the race as fresh as she can, knowing that we're not having a summer break.”

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Buick echoed those sentiments and said, “I know she has won over this trip before in Paris last year, but I think she's a bit speedier now. She doesn't need to be running over this trip again. She's energetic and I was delighted to get a lead on her. We went slow and she took it up a fair way out, but has stuck on all the way to the line. She is a very good mover, so there is no real reason why she should want soft ground. Her form suggests she is better on it, but if it was good-to-soft or good ground, I wouldn't be worried. If the ground came up like this in the Arc, she is a class filly and you would have to give her a chance.” Oisin Murphy said of Tribal Craft, “It was a career-best and I am thrilled. Tribal Craft definitely improved for a change of tactics–being dropped in really suits her and she relishes these conditions.”

Wonderful Tonight, whose career trajectory took an upward turn when winning Deauville's 12 1/2-furlong G3 Prix Minerve on heavy ground last August, is a daughter of Salvation (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) who also produced the stakes winner Penjade (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}). The second dam is the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Birdie (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}), who was responsible for three black-type performers headed by the GIII Providencia S. scorer Hostess (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}). Birdie is kin to the listed-winning Fickle (GB) (Danehill), in turn the dam of the G3 Dahlia S. winner Tarfah (Kingmambo) who produced the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Epsom and Irish Derby hero and established sire Camelot (GB). Salvation's unraced 2-year-old colt Ak Ishan (Fr) (Recorder {GB}) was a €70,000 purchase at Arqana Deauville October by Haras de Montfort & Preaux, while she also has a yearling filly by the same sire.

Saturday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR LILLIE LANGTRY S.-G2, £300,000, Goodwood, 7-31, 3yo/up, f/m, 14fT, 3:13.05, sf.
1–WONDERFUL TONIGHT (FR), 135, f, 4, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Salvation (GB), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Birdie (GB), by Alhaarth (Ire)
3rd Dam: Fade (GB), by Persepolis (Fr)
(€40,000 Ylg '18 ARAUG). O-Christopher Wright; B-SARL Ecurie La Cauviniere (FR); T-David Menuisier; J-William Buick. £170,130. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 14f+, G1SW-Fr & Eng, 10-6-1-1, $832,231. *1/2 to Penjade (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}), SW-US, MSP-Fr, $376,306. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tribal Craft (GB), 132, m, 5, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Snoqualmie Star (GB), by Galileo (Ire). O-Mr J C Smith; B-Littleton Stud (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £64,500.
3–Albaflora (GB), 132, f, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Almiranta (GB), by Galileo (Ire). O/B-Miss K Rausing (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £32,280.
Margins: 2, 9, 5. Odds: 1.80, 16.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Divinely (Ire), Makawee (Ire), Believe In Love (Ire), Cabaletta (GB). Scratched: Golden Pass (GB), Traisha (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Christopher Wright's G1 Prix de Royallieu, G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G2 Hardwicke S. heroine was forced to miss last Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. due to the fast surface and despite the ground drying out all the time here,  she is committed to run under her three-pound penalty. Trainer David Menuisier is taking nothing for granted.

“The opposition obviously is not the same as the King George, but they have to be respected,” he said. “I haven't gone into great detail as to the horses left in the race but there's a 3-year-old carrying next to no weight, which is something you can't discard. She's the favourite and she should be, but we're not going there thinking she's a sure thing. It's a horse race and we know Goodwood offers some upsets at times.”

“I'm not here to put a dampener on it because on sheer ability, there's no race,” he added. “She's a bit buzzy, because she went to Ascot and had to come back but other than that she's fine. It's important she runs at the end of July and it didn't happen last weekend. That's the main point–she needs to run somewhere, because she's really well and fit. I don't want to deceive her by going back home and keep on working her there to get the freshness out of her without racing.”

Weather is always a concern for Menuisier, but there is rain forecast ahead of the race. “Obviously we're still hoping for some rain before Saturday to keep it on the slow side, because it's drying out quickly,” he said. “Good ground would be okay and if we don't get any more rain I think that's what it will be. I just know that on quicker ground she can't reach the levels she does on soft, so then it is a question of opposition.”

Koji Maeda's July 8 G3 Stanerra S. winner Believe In Love (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) will be in the mix if the favourite fails to fire, while the weight-for-age is a staggering 15 pounds which brings Ballydoyle's June 4 G1 Epsom Oaks third and July 17 G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) into the equation as the sole 3-year-old in the line-up.

“She has developed into a very solid, classy filly and now has two Classic-placed performances to her name,” jockey Ryan Moore said. “She operates on any ground, so the weather can do what it wants and you have to like her chances as the only 3-year-old in here getting a hefty 12 pounds from most and 15 from Wonderful Tonight.”

At Newmarket, Juddmonte's rare jewel Chiasma (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) lines up for the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Chalice S. The John and Thady Gosden-trained full-sister to Frankel (GB) faces tough opposition in the 12-furlong contest as she bids to build on her novice win at Kempton last time June 30.

“It's a good renewal of the race and some of the fillies in there have got some strong form by their names,” Thady Gosden said. “Chiasma won last time out which was important for her and for Juddmonte. Now we hope to get some black-type next to her name with a pedigree like hers. If the ground is faster it won't be a worry, although it is due to rain and she has already run on soft ground. She shows a great attitude at home and enjoys her work.”

Another Juddmonte runner is the unbeaten Ralph Beckett-trained Yesyes (GB) (Camelot {GB}), who has impressed at Haydock May 28 and Lingfield July 14.

“The mile and a half on the July Course should suit her really well, particularly as they have a drop of rain forecast,” her trainer said. “Her first run has been given a boost and it is lovely form. We've had to be patient with her, as she was slow to come to hand. Last year she was a big filly and was simply not ready to race.”

Godolphin's Sayyida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a half-sister to Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) with two course-and-distance wins to her name May 16 and June 26 and Charlie Appleby is looking forward to seeing how she fares in a tough contest.

“We will be slightly on weather watch, as we would like a bit of rain as it was quick enough there on her last start,” he explained. “We are pleased with her preparation and the one thing she does is stay well.”

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The post Wonderful Tonight Swerves The King George appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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William Haggas believes the rain will not come in the kind of quantity required for his stable star Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and opted to take him out at the final stage, while Prince Faisal's Mar. 27 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) makes up the older contingent. The two 3-year-olds are Godolphin's June 5 G1 Epsom Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Ballylinch Stud and Aquis Farm's June 26 G1 Irish Derby runner-up Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who receive eight pounds weight-for-age from the 4-year-old fillies and 11 from Broome and Mishriff.

Adayar will be looking to become the first blue riband winner to prevail here since Galileo 20 years ago and trainer Charlie Appleby spoke after his breeze under William Buick at Moulton Paddocks on Thursday morning. “I couldn't be happier with him. It was a straightforward final piece of work and he will go there on Saturday with no excuses,” he said. “It's true that before Epsom, I thought he was shaping more as a St Leger type. He's so straightforward at home, he never stood out in his work but, having said that, we always felt he was very good. On Derby Day, he showed us a turn-of-foot we hadn't seen before and he has sharpened up a lot for that experience.”

“Like everybody else, we've got a huge watching brief on this,” he added. “Everybody's wanting to know how good the three-year-olds are, particularly at a mile and a half. We would like to see what we are dealing with and I think the King George will provide the answers. Adayar is approaching his biggest challenge in tip-top condition and we are upbeat about accepting the challenge. His prep has been faultless. We have seen him maturing week on week. I believe he is physically stronger than he was at Epsom. When you see him in the paddock on Saturday, he won't look like a three-year-old against older horses. He looks like an older horse now.”

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Godolphin's Adayar is not the only 3-year-old in the field, as G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby second Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also steps forward for Martyn Meade.

Rounding out the nine are the globetrotting Group 1 winners Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) from the William Haggas yard, John and Thady Gosden trainee Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}).

“I talked to John after Mishriff worked on Saturday and John was very happy with him,” said Ted Voute, racing manager for Prince Faisal on the $20-million Saudi Cup and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic scorer. “It has very much been left up to John where he runs next and, having discussed it with the Prince, Ascot looks the likely target.

“We want to win a Group 1 in England with Mishriff and you can't win one unless you run in them. He has beaten some very good horses from around the world and now is the time to see what he can do against the big battalions from England and Ireland in particular.”

The progressive dual Group 1-winning filly Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) for David Menuisier. A notable absentee is G1 Coronation Cup victor Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) who suffered a setback.

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Trainer David Menuisier said, “The King George is the plan as long as we have the weather on our side. That is what we'll be aiming to do. She's great, she's in really good form. I couldn't be more pleased with her.”

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The John and Thady Gosden trainee faces a stiff three-pronged entry from Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners' dual Classic hero St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who has scooped both the G1 French 2000 Guineas this spring, but also the G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club on June 6. O'Brien's other two entries are the MG1SW Japan (GB) (Galileo {ire}) and the MGSW & MG1SP Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

The entries are completed by William Haggas's globetrotting MG1SW Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), Christopher Wright's Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) who won the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot on June 19, and the listed winner El Drama (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) for Roger Varian and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid.

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Wonderful Tonight, who unusually broke her maiden at Saint-Cloud in a 10-furlong maiden at two, was fourth in Newbury's Listed Abingdon Fillies' S. over that trip on her 3-year-old bow last June before running second to the high-class Valia (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the Listed Prix de Thiberville over this distance at ParisLongchamp July 23. Turning the tables on that rival when making all in the G3 Prix Minerve at Deauville in August, she was fifth in the G1 Prix Vermeille also over 12 furlongs on livelier ground back at ParisLongchamp in September prior to her victories in the 14-furlong Royallieu there and British Champions Fillies & Mares S. over this track and trip.

Free initially before Buick found cover behind Thunderous (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) as fellow Mark Johnston trainee Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) took up pace-setting duties, Wonderful Tonight had everything covered behind with Broome tracking her but unable to begin to match her change of pace after straightening up. Just as Fanny Logan (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) had in this 12 months ago, she was quickly gone beyond recall with the colts beaten up in her wake. David Menuisier was leaving no one in any doubt as to the importance of the moment in his training career afterwards. “She keeps on amazing me–she is so game and tries hard, as she's only 85% fit today,” he said. “She runs her heart out and I'm so proud of her–no words can describe what it means. You carry it like a monkey on your back until it happens and I'm pleased that Her Majesty managed to come to see Wonderful Tonight! She will go where the ground is softest, whether that's in the [July 4 G1] Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, or the [G1] King George [VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot July 24] or the [Aug. 19 G1] Yorkshire Oaks–anywhere over a mile four where there is a good downpour. The [Oct. 3] Arc is the target. Would we try her on good ground before that? I don't know.”

The success was also a first for Christopher Wright, who said, “I couldn't believe it. What a filly. She is amazing. I have been running horses here for 40 years, almost every year at least one, sometimes several. I've never ever had a winner at Royal Ascot–lots of seconds, lots of very good horses. Culture Vulture, who won a Classic, was second twice, but I've never had a winner here. I almost can't believe it–I thought I never ever would have a winner here, but I have. It means everything, actually. There are winners and winners, but a Royal Ascot winner. I've won a lot of very good races, but to win at Royal Ascot is like I've died and gone to heaven.”

“After last year, when we almost ran Wonderful Tonight in the Arc, we thought that we would target the Arc this year. I know that's like shooting for the moon and it's a pretty tough target to aspire to, but that has been the target and her programme has been based round it, so we didn't want her to start the season too early,” Wright added. “We don't think she's a filly who will like a mid-season break particularly, so we wanted to start the season and gradually bring her along so she could peak on the first weekend of October. This was step one of that plan.”

Wonderful Tonight, who was a €40,000 private purchase at the 2018 Arqana August Sale, is a daughter of Salvation (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) whose first progeny was the stakes winner Penjade (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}). They are out of the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial scorer Birdie (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}), who produced the GIII Providencia S. scorer Hostess (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}). Birdie is kin to the listed-winning Fickle (GB) (Danehill), whose G3 Dahlia S.-winning daughter Tarfah (Kingmambo) was responsible for the G1 2000 Guineas, Epsom and Irish Derby hero and leading sire Camelot (GB) by Salvation's sire Montjeu. Also connected to the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Polygamy (GB), Salvation's 2-year-old colt by Recorder (GB) was bought by Haras de Montfort and Preaux for €70,000 at the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale. Her yearling filly is by the same sire.

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
HARDWICKE S.-G2, £160,000, Ascot, 6-19, 4yo/up, 11f 211yT, 2:35.31, sf.
1–WONDERFUL TONIGHT (FR), 124, f, 4, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Salvation (GB), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Birdie (GB), by Alhaarth (Ire)
3rd Dam: Fade (GB), by Persepolis (Fr)
(€40,000 Ylg '18 ARAUG). O-Christopher Wright; B-Ecurie La Cauviniere (FR); T-David Menuisier; J-William Buick. £90,736. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 14f+, G1SW-Eng & Fr, 9-5-1-1, $595,662. *1/2 to Penjade (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}), SW-US & MSP-Fr, $376,306. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Broome (Ire), 127, h, 5, Australia (GB)–Sweepstake (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (€120,000 RNA Ylg '17 GOFOR; 150,000gns Ylg '17 TATDEY). O-Masaaki Matsushima, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £34,400.
3–Hukum (Ire), 127, c, 4, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Aghareed, by Kingmambo. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Owen Burrows. £17,216.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, 2HF. Odds: 5.00, 2.25, 8.00.
Also Ran: Thunderous (Ire), Albaflora (GB), Japan (GB), Sir Ron Priestley (GB), Ilaraab (Ire), Highest Ground (Ire), Deja (Fr). Scratched: Bangkok (Ire), Logician (GB), Mogul (GB), Pablo Escobarr (Ire), Tiger Moth (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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“I think it's pretty unlikely he will run,” he said. “His only defeat so far came on soft ground here last year. It's frustrating, as not only is it a lovely opportunity at Royal Ascot, but some of the other races he might go for, like the Maurice de Gheest and the Sprint Cup at Haydock, are often run on soft ground so it's frustrating to lose a summer target to freakish weather. We've just got to hope the weather improves and it dries up now. He is entered in the [G1] July Cup [at Newmarket July 10], so that is an option if the ground dried up.”

Deep ground is no deal-breaker for Saeed Suhail's Dream of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead), as he showed when winning the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup in September following his seven-length romp in the seven-furlong G2 Hungerford S. at Newbury the previous month. Beaten a head in each of the last two editions of this race and in front a stride after the line in both, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained veteran appeared as sprightly as ever when taking the Listed Leisure S. over this trip at Windsor May 17 and if he can make it third time lucky it will be one of the stories of the week. “He's going very good at home. He couldn't be better, you just don't know about the draw [in three] but with 14 runners it shouldn't make much difference,” the owner's racing manager Bruce Raymond said. “He's working very well and he couldn't be better.”

Third in the Silver Wokingham H. over this course and distance at last year's meeting, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Nahaarr (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has subsequently made major strides to become a burgeoning top-flight sprinter. Successful on good-to-soft in the Ayr Gold Cup in September, he was just a neck behind behind Starman and 3 1/4 lengths in front of Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. winner Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) in the Duke of York. Trainer William Haggas said, “He ran a very good race in the Duke of York. I think he might be a little bit better with a bit of cut in the ground. If they go fast and he can wait a bit, I think he'll come home well.”

Testing ground is the order of the day for the British Champions Sprint S. hero Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who put up a creditable comeback performance when fourth under a penalty in the G3 Greenlands S. at The Curragh May 22. He is closely matched with Moyglare Stud's acquisition Sonaiyla (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), having had her back in second in last year's G3 Phoenix Sprint S. also at The Curragh. Although the mare was only 10th beaten him on Champions Day, she was a place ahead of him when third in the Greenlands on better weight terms and has since taken the G3 Ballyogan S. back at that venue June 2.

Hambleton Racing's Simon Turner said of Glen Shiel, “Obviously we welcome the rain at Ascot and he's in great condition at home. He's come on for his reappearance run in Ireland and we couldn't be happier with him. It was testing ground when he won there in the autumn and while he handles it, I don't think he needs it. It probably just doesn't inconvenience him as much as some of the others. We are excited to run him and I think plenty of people will latch on to Glen as he has that soft-ground form–he certainly deserves to be in the conversation.”

King Power Racing's Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) took the inaugural Palace of Holyroodhouse H. here 12 months ago before adding the G3 Lacken S. to his tally at Naas in July. Knocking on the door when fourth in the Haydock Sprint Cup and in the Champions Sprint back here, he should fare better than when sixth on his comeback in the Duke of York.

Preceding the Diamond Jubilee is the G2 Hardwicke S. over a mile and a half, where Christopher Wright's G1 Prix de Royallieu and G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) looks to have everything in her favour now that the heavy rains have come. Rapidly-improving last term, the bargain buy has trainer David Menuisier understandably excited ahead of her 4-year-old campaign but he is not expecting fireworks here. “She should really enjoy the conditions, the trip and ground are perfect but she's running against race-fit, really good horses so we will go there respecting everybody and bearing in mind she is only 85 per-cent fit,” he said. “We want her to peak later on in the season. That doesn't mean she won't put up a lovely performance but I'm just saying, due to her exuberant style as well, she might want to do a bit much too early. The Arc is her big aim this year and there are so many big races towards the end of the season, so it makes no sense to have her at 100 per-cent first time out. In saying all this, it may be compensated by the fact she's highest-rated and loves the ground–we'll find out in the race!”

Aidan O'Brien initially had four engaged, but has scratched the Galileo (Ire) duo of Tiger Moth (Ire) and Mogul (GB), leaving the latter's full-brother Japan (GB) and Ryan Moore's pick Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) to represent the stable. Broome, who has proven versatile in terms of ground, is as consistent as they come and carries no penalty for his success in the 10-furlong G2 Mooresbridge S. at The Curragh May 3. Denied on the bobber by Helvic Dream (Ire) (Power {GB}) in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup staged on a testing surface over an extra half-furlong back there 20 days later, his ability to handle this ground was proven back in 2019 when he enjoyed one of his career-best moments on it when beating Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by eight lengths in the G3 Ballysax S. at Leopardstown.

“We have a very strong hand in here and all have winning chances at their best,” Moore said. “Broome comes here on the top of his form and he was only a short head away from making it four from four this season in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time. This has been the first time he has stepped up to a mile and a half this term and that could easily bring about improvement in a horse beaten in a four-way photo for the Derby. He has a very solid look to him here and he should handle conditions better than most.”

Shadwell's Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) took the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. over an extended 13 furlongs on good-to-soft at Newbury last August and did handle going that was officially soft when taking Goodwood's Listed Tapster S. over this trip May 22, but whether he wants it this extreme is unknown. Boasting course-and-distance winning form at last year's Royal meeting, having come out on top in the King George V H. when Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) was third, the homebred faces a test of his ability here.

That William Haggas has opted to let Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's winning machine Ilaraab (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) take his chance in this elite company speaks volumes. Looking ready for such an examination when scoring by three lengths in a competitive handicap over just short of this trip at York May 12, he was making it six on the bounce there and it is difficult to put a ceiling on his progress at present. “Ilaraab is rated 111 now and the other opportunity was the [Listed] Fred Archer at Newmarket next weekend. I'd have preferred to go listed and then group three coming out of handicaps and I think he's better left-handed as well, but he's in good form,” his trainer said. “He's a very interesting horse. He worked well this week with Addeybb so he's got talent, but who knows.”

In the seven-furlong G3 Jersey S., Godolphin's Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) takes the next step up the ladder having taken every challenge in his stride so far in 2021. He beat Thursday's Britannia H. winner Perotto (GB) (New Bay {GB}) on good-to-firm in a six-furlong handicap at Newmarket May 1 before following up in the Listed Carnarvon S. over that trip on good-to-soft at Newbury May 15 and could still be progressing. He is joined by fellow Charlie Appleby-trained Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who beat Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Feb. 25 Listed Meydan Classic before coming back to Europe to be second to Tactical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) in Newmarket's Listed European Free H. over this trip Apr. 14. Fourth when ridden from the front in the G1 2000 Guineas back there May 1, it is no surprise that William Buick has opted to ride him.

“Naval Crown produced an excellent run in the 2000 Guineas and dropping back to seven furlongs will suit,” Appleby said. “A repeat of his Newmarket performance should make him a leading contender. Creative Force has proved very consistent over six furlongs so far this season and heads into this in good order. He won with some cut in the ground at Newbury last time and we are hopeful with his breeding that he will stay this distance.”

Sir Edmund Loder's unbeaten homebred Bellosa (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) beat the re-opposing Fundamental (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the Listed King Charles II S. over this trip at Newmarket May 15, but this ground is an unknown for her. There has to be a doubt that Shadwell's TDN Rising Star Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) will handle it testing, so impressive was he on Newmarket's fast Craven meeting ground when winning his conditions event at this distance Apr. 13. Only seventh in the Guineas, the son of Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) may have to wait for another day to show his true ability.

Ballydoyle's Apr. 15 G3 Craven S. flop Khartoum (Pioneerof The Nile) put that behind him when beating the smart subsequent winner and this card's Golden Gates H. runner Visualisation (Ire) (No Nay Never) in a competitive mile handicap at Naas May 16. Ryan Moore is keen on his chances and said, “He was far too free for me in the Craven, but he showed his true colours when winning a decent handicap off a mark of 92 on soft ground at Naas last time and that was in spite of taking a fair bump coming out of the stalls. The second won next time and I think he deserves this step back up in grade. He has plenty of pace, so I think the return to seven furlongs will suit too and the rain may not be such a negative for him.”

There is a fascinating renewal of the Listed Chesham S. to open the card and the seven-furlong contest has become a staging post for Ballydoyle's Classic-bound colts of late. Churchill (Ire) scored in 2016 and Battleground (War Front) prevailed 12 months ago, so the pressure is on TDN Rising Star Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) here. Successful by 5 1/2 lengths over this trip on yielding ground at The Curragh June 2, the full-brother to Broome looked a touch special there and his G2 Hardwicke-bound sibling has always been as effective with cut underfoot. “It sounds as if this has been the plan for a while and he certainly looks to have been very impressive when winning by a wide margin at the Curragh on his debut,” Ryan Moore said. “Whether or not he will handle these deep conditions, we will soon find out.”

Andrew Balding has already won the G2 Coventry S. and G3 Albany S. and his enviable 2-year-old crop is represented by Mick and Janice Mariscotti's May 21 soft-ground Goodwood novice scorer Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir), while Charlie Appleby looks to follow his 2019 success with Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) with New Science (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Making all in a Yarmouth maiden over this trip on debut May 28, he is re-opposed by The Queen's Reach For the Moon (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) who is bound to improve on that start emanating from the John and Thady Gosden stable. “New Science won well at Yarmouth and improved mentally for the experience,” Appleby said. “Ground conditions will obviously be very different here, but his pedigree suggests he might be fine on it.”

Also on the card is the six-furlong Wokingham H., where Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. seventh King's Lynn (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) backs up quickly to attempt to provide The Queen with a latest Royal Ascot winner. Again it is Ryan Moore in the saddle and he said, “He ran a great race when a close seventh in the King's Stand here earlier in the week and he would have got much closer had he any racing room up on the rail in the closing furlong or so,” he commented. “A reproduction of that run clearly makes him the pick of the weights off a mark of just 100 here. He has form on fast and soft ground, the extra furlong could even be a positive and he must have a leading chance if he handles the quick turnaround.”

King's Lynn gets five pounds from one of the talking horses of the moment in Chris Kiely Racing's Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}), who beat none other than Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in the G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock May 22 having won the G3 Pavilion S. over this course and distance Apr. 28. Ryan Moore rode David Evans' stable star on the latter occasion, so has a direct line to him in what could prove a fascinating encounter.

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