Far And Away The Best

If form means anything, Saturday's G2 Dunaden at Overbury Jockey Club S. at Newmarket should be cut and dried for 'TDN Rising Star' Telescope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). With only four runners lining up, the early marker of the strength of the older horse scene in Europe suggests that it is weaker than usual and Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's already accomplished 5-year-old has an ideal starting point. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute has seven renewals under his belt and has minded the G2 Hardwicke S. winner and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. runner-up so far. He may have found the tight turns of Santa Anita against him when fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, and Highclere's Harry Herbert is looking forward to him getting back on track. 

“This has been the plan basically since the end of last season,” he told PA Sport. “I saw him recently and he looked an absolute picture; he looks to have done tremendously well through the winter and has thrived physically. He could improve again from four to five, like so many do for Sir Michael.” 

Chief opposition comes from John Manley's Pether's Moon (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), who was runner-up to Telescope's stable companion Arab Spring (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) in Newbury's G3 John Porter S. over this trip on his seasonal bow Apr. 18. Last term, he managed wins in the G3 Glorious S. at Goodwood, G2 International Bosphorus Cup at Veliefendi and G3 Cumberland Lodge S. at Ascot and was also runner-up in this contest, but he has a three-pound penalty to contend with. 

“Pether's Moon produced a career-best performance when finishing second to Arab Spring in the John Porter at Newbury,” trainer Richard Hannon commented. “He might have an edge in fitness over his three rivals, all of whom are without a previous run this season, though obviously he still has that penalty from last year to carry.” 

Luca Cumani's horses are in a rich vein of form and respect is due to Merry Fox Stud's Listed Finale S. winner Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) despite being adrift of the main duo on form. “It is a tough race and a step up from the listed race he won last year, but he has been pleasing me in his work at home,” his conditioner told PA Sport. “We are running him here as there is not really another listed race for him. It is difficult to quantify how much he has improved, but he has pleased me with his progress. I don't know whether the small field will suit him but a tactical race is not ideal for anyone.”