It is a long time since Sandown's G3 Matchbook VIP Henry II S. enjoyed elevated status in the staying program and a demotion from Group 2 level hardly helped in 2012, but Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) came and conquered en route to bigger things 12 months ago and Thursday's edition features a colt who could eventually be in that league in Weekender (GB) (Frankel {GB}). A grandson of Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), Khalid Abdullah's homebred has the raw material to reach the top and the style of his two most recent outings when winning the Listed Noel Murless S.–only to be demoted behind Raheen House (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire})–and a conditions race at Chelmsford May 10 suggests he is on his way. John Gosden is not contemplating a tilt at the stayers' holy grail at Royal Ascot, however.
“I think the Gold Cup might be beyond him, distance-wise, I was thinking of bringing him back to a mile and a half,” he explained. “He just won so nicely over a mile-six we were keen to try him over two miles, as that would open up a lot more options.”
If there is a Buckskin (Fr) or Ardross (Ire) or even a Papineau (GB) lurking it is him, but the Juddmonte homebred has some hardened group performers to test him including last year's G1 Irish St Leger third Mount Moriah (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) who took the Listed Further Flight S. on his return at Nottingham Apr. 21.
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