Frontiersman Tackles Newmarket Challenge

Frontiersman | Racing Post

Runner-up in the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom June 2, Godolphin's Frontiersman (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) sets the standard as he lines up for the G2 Princess of Wales's Arqana S. at Newmarket on Thursday. That performance was a marked step up on his prior win in a 12-furlong handicap on the Rowley Mile here May 7 and as a son of Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) he has the potential to go on to better things. Also saddling the Coronation Cup third Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy), who was subsequently sixth in the July 2 G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, trainer Charlie Appleby is in no doubt who is top in the pecking order.

“Frontiersman is our number one contender,” he said. “He has done nothing but please us of late. I am applying the cheekpieces just to help him along. He has got an ungenuine head carriage, which is not his fault, but he is not an ungenuine horse. The cheekpieces will just help him concentrate. I think they have all got him to beat. It was a big step up at Epsom and we were delighted with the run as he backed up what he was showing us at home and that is why we supplemented him. He deserved a crack in that race and didn't let us down. If he goes and wins this then he will book his ticket to the King George.”

Of Hawkbill, he added, “He travelled a bit in and out in France and he did that when he went there in the spring. Those trips don't seem to suit the horse, so I don't think we will do it again. He has come out of the race well and with rain forecast I would look daft if I didn't leave him in. He is a character and we have all seen how he gets hot and sweaty before the race, but that is the nature of the beast. He is not ungenuine. He gives us two nice contenders in the race.”

Sir Michael Stoute has enjoyed nine successes in this and relies on Saeed Suhail's Poet's Word (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}), who was runner-up to Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on his black-type bow in the G3 Huxley S. at Chester last time May 11. “Poet's Word is going into the race in good shape,” the owner's racing manager Bruce Raymond commented. “He was going to go to Royal Ascot but the owner couldn't make it, so Sir Michael Stoute switched him to this. I think the mile and a half will be his preferred distance and I don't think the ground will be a problem for him. This track will suit him better than Chester and he goes there a better horse than the one he was at Chester.”

Lady Bamford's 2016 King George runner-up Wings of Desire (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) was fifth on his return in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot June 24 and jockey Frankie Dettori is looking forward to being reunited with him. “He's so laid-back that we have decided to try him in sheepskin cheekpieces, they might just help him concentrate,” he said.

 

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