Sir Michael Stoute's record of nine winners of Sandown's G3 Matchbook Brigadier Gerard S. includes the high-class Stagecraft (GB) (Sadler's Wells), Opera House (GB) (Sadler's Wells), Pilsudski (Ire) (Polish Precedent), Notnowcato (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and Workforce (GB) (King's Best). No pressure, then, for this year's Freemason Lodge representative Poet's Word (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}) as he re-appears in Europe on Thursday evening. Second fiddle to Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy) in the G1 Irish and English Champion S. and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, respectively, Saeed Suhail's 5-year-old appears to have a class edge on his rivals.
“It looks a good race for him without a penalty,” the owner's racing manager Bruce Raymond commented. “He's effective at a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half and Sir Michael has decided to go for this as an easier option before he goes to Ascot. We did toy with the [June 1 G1] Coronation Cup, but didn't really see the point in taking on Cracksman (GB) again, so we're hoping he can win this. It will either be the [June 20 G1] Prince of Wales's S. or the [G2] Hardwicke [on June 23] next, this might help us decide.”
Having beaten Stoute's 2017 Brigadier Gerard winner Autocratic (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) impressively on his comeback in the 10-furlong Listed Magnolia S. at Kempton at the end of March, The Queen's Fabricate (GB) (Makfi {GB}) ran into a better class of runner from that stable in Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Gordon Richards S. over this course and distance Apr. 27. After that rival won again in Saturday's G3 Aston Park S., the form of his short-head defeat reads well and he will be a tough nut to crack over his ideal trip.
“He should be bang there again, but unfortunately for us it looks like Sir Michael will be a party pooper once more,” trainer Michael Bell said. “We'll do our best and he's in very good form.”
Shadwell's unexposed Laraaib (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) had a progressive profile in handicaps last term and he may have found Haydock's G3 Rose of Lancaster S. a step too far at the time when a distant third in August.
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