This race has often been used as a stepping stone to the G1 St James's Palace S. and it could have even more import than usual this year with no outstanding miler having emerged from either the English or French 2000 Guineas.
John Gosden had the unbeaten Without Parole engaged in the former until a minor setback ruled him out, so he is obviously held in high esteem by the trainer of the fifth-placed Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy). The fact that his trainer was thinking of letting the half-brother to the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Tamarkuz (Speightstown) take his chance in such elevated company after only two wins in novice contests at Newcastle and Yarmouth says it all.
“He has got a bit to prove, he won a nice novice at Yarmouth but he then bruised his foot and it was pretty nasty,” he explained. “That kept him off for a few days because he had an abscess with it. He's a grand horse but he's only had two runs in his life, he'll be learning a lot. This horse is on an upward curve, he's nowhere near where he's going to be, so whether he shines or learns more, I don't know. He's well-entered and we have options over a mile and 10 furlongs.”
TDN Rising Star Dream Today was second to Godolphin's Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Newmarket's G3 Autumn S. over this trip in October and could have improvement in him along with Gabr who did best of all the unexposed types when fifth in the G1 Racing Post Trophy when last seen at Doncaster in October.
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