Audition Time

Newmarket's G2 bet365 Superlative S. has served as an early showcase for the talent of the likes of Classic winners Dr Devious (Ire) and Dubawi (Ire) and also Horatio Nelson (Ire) (Danehill) and Olympic Glory (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) and the search is on again on Saturday for future luminaries. One obvious candidate on breeding and connections is 'TDN Rising Star' Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a relative of Invincible Spirit (Ire) et al who represents Ballydoyle and comes here on the back of a smooth win in a maiden at this trip at The Curragh July 2. “He won nicely at the Curragh. He obviously hasn't done much since as it was only the other day, but we've been happy with him at home,” his trainer said.

As usual, Godolphin are in attendance taking the war to Ballydoyle and the duo to carry the royal blue here hail from the Charlie Appleby stable successful in 2016 with Boynton (More Than Ready). Aqabah (Exchange Rate) rates as the best horse in the line-up as a result of his fifth placing in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot June 20, while Zaman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) who was 13th in that feature has since enjoyed a confidence boost when successful in a six-furlong conditions event at Pontefract July 3. “I felt [Aqabah] ran a solid race in the Coventry,” Appleby said. “He was caught flat-footed half way, but he stayed on well. He did all his best work in the last furlong and stepping him up to seven, we will see where we are with him. I thought it was a good performance [from Zaman] at Pontefract and the second and third brought a good bit to the table. It looks like he is crying out for a step up in trip. It wasn't my first plan to head to the Superlative, but I just felt he came out of his last race so well.”Jane Chapple-Hyam puts her Newbury debut scorer Bullington Bandit (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) into the fire, but he has already proven with his defeat of another Godolphin representative in Being There (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) at 80-1 in that 6 1/2-furlong novice contest June 15 that he has the raw material to justify this tilt. “He is in great order and I'm very hopeful he can put in another good effort,” she said. “I know they said the Newbury race was slow, but he really put his neck down and showed a good turn of foot. I feel the seven furlongs will be better for him as he was just getting going at the end of the race and hopefully he will be in the shake up. We were all happy with him before Newbury and he goes in there an improved horse for this race. I finished third in it with Klammer [in 2010] and if this horse can do that, it would be great. I would like to think at this stage of his career he is better than Klammer.”