G1 Middle Park S. winner Charming Thought (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) has been conspicuous by his absence this year but his trainer Charlie Appleby issued a positive update on the 3-year-old colt's condition on Thursday. The Godolphin runner suffered a training setback in the spring but Appleby is already lining up potential late season targets and commented, “Charming Thought is back cantering and the plan is to aim him at the G2 Park Stakes at Doncaster in September. He looks a totally different horse to look at compared to how he was in the spring. Hopefully it will be the springboard to an autumn campaign, where we will look forward to getting him ready for Champions Day. This race should also tell us if we run him over six furlongs or step him up to a mile on Champions Day.” Charming Thought had subsequent G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) back in third place when winning at Newmarket last October and that victory also capped a memorable month for his breeder Craig Bennett, whose Merry Fox Stud had also bred and owned another Group 1 winner four weeks previously in the shape of Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor).
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