It is the turn of the seven-furlong specialists on Saturday, with Newbury staging an open-looking renewal the G2 Hungerford S. With very little between all eight protagonists, those entering the test on a high could have the edge and last year's winner Sir Dancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) is coming in off a return-to-form success in Goodwood's G2 Lennox S. on July 30. Forced to carry a three-pound penalty here as he did when following up 12 months ago, David Elsworth's stable stalwart has to confirm form with the Lennox runner-up Hey Gaman (GB) (New Approach {Ire}).
Ross Harmon's Safe Voyage (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) has proven a revelation this term, winning Haydock's Listed Spring Trophy May 11 and G3 John of Gaunt S. June 8 on ground with varying degrees of ease before running third in the G2 Minstrel S. Behind the subsequent G1 Prix Jacques le Marois winner Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Hay Gaman on ground described as good in that July 20 Curragh contest, the John Quinn standard-bearer should have the going to suit with the British summer dipping once again.
“We're very happy with him,” Quinn said. “Obviously the races he can run in now are very difficult, but we couldn't be happier with him and we're hoping he can win. There's rain around and I'm expecting good-to-soft ground which will be fine for him. It did dry up quicker than we expected at The Curragh, but it was safe and he went on it–he just prefers it with a little bit more dig. He can travel that bit easier when it's softer.”
Earlier on Newbury's card, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Juan Elcano (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will be a warm order after his second in Newmarket's G2 Superlative S. July 13, but faces danger in an unbeaten Mark Johnston-trained colt in Thunderous (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}). Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's bay was successful with an amount of authority at Doncaster June 28 and Redcar July 21 and is still unexposed.
Juan Elcano's jockey Andrea Atzeni said, “He ran a solid race last time at Newmarket, where I think the dip coming down the hill didn't suit him. He is a good-looking horse with a great mind and we are very hopeful. That was only his second run last time and he was staying on well. The flat seven should suit him well, while we know he handles a softer surface as he won his novice race on heavy ground. He is a horse we think a lot of and like a lot.”
Mark Johnston said of Thunderous, “On ratings he has got quite a bit to find, but he is an unknown quantity. He has had two runs and two wins and he can't do any more than that. He has shown a bit of class. He is a nice horse and has done everything well.”
The G3 Geoffrey Freer S. sees a trio of 3-year-olds take on the impressive May 9 G3 Ormonde S. winner Morando (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) who is enjoying a drop in class. One of them is Sultan Ali's convincing July 19 Listed Glasgow S. scorer Sameem (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) who could yet emerge as a lively outsider in the St Leger. Andrew Balding said of Morando, “If the rain comes we know he handles that ground very well. He seems in good form. He was a little bit below-par [when eighth] in the King George, but it was a race run at a strong gallop and it didn't really suit him. He has won over this trip at Chester so we know that won't be a problem.”
Deauville's four black-type races are headed by the G2 Shadwell Prix de la Nonette, where Lady Bamford's Suphala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) bids to take another step up the ladder after successes in the Listed Prix Volterra over a mile at ParisLongchamp June 10 and nine-furlong G3 Prix Chloe at Chantilly June 29. She faces Ecurie Philippe Segalot and Martin Schwartz's May 20 G3 Prix Cleopatre winner Etoile (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) who was unlucky to only be fourth in the G1 Prix de Diane over 10 1/2 furlongs at Chantilly last time June 16.
Lady Bamford and Andre Fabre also combine with the likely G2 Shadwell Prix du Calvados favourite Tropbeau (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who captured the G3 Prix Six Perfections over this course and distance July 29. Just three fillies take her on, including Merriebelle Irish Farm's July 25 Listed Star S. winner Walk In Marrakesh (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) from the Johnston stable. The G3 Shadwell Prix Daphnis sees Khalid Abdullah's July 28 Listed Prix de Tourgeville winner Delaware (GB) (Frankel {GB}) meet His Highness The Aga Khan's impressive July 14 ParisLongchamp conditions scorer Shendam (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).
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