After Newbury was hit by torrential rain on Thursday night, Saturday's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. lost its star turn with the withdrawal of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Mokarris (More Than Ready), leaving the contest open. Dr Johnny Hon's Global Applause (GB) (Mayson {GB}) was fourth when that colt was runner-up in the G2 Gimcrack S. over this trip at York Aug. 20, but was subsequently eighth in the Weatherbys Hamilton £300,000 2-Y-O S. over 6 1/2 furlongs at Doncaster nine days ago. If he can recapture his earlier form, when dispatching of Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in Sandown's Listed National S. over five furlongs May 26, he would be the class act.
The Rat Pack Partnership 2016's Legendary Lunch (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}) was a strong-closing dead-heater for second in last Friday's G2 Flying Childers S. over five furlongs at Doncaster, but he was only seventh behind Mokarris in the Rose Bowl and has a question to answer here.
Soft ground may rule out Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Sutter County (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who lost his unbeaten record when fourth in York's Listed Roses S. over five furlongs Aug. 20. “No definite decision has been made on him,” trainer Mark Johnston's son and assistant, Charlie Johnston, said. “We can't be certain whether he handles soft ground or not, so we'll see just what the ground is like and play it by ear. He'd been off a long time before he ran at York. He was probably a bit rusty after his injury. He's a horse we think a huge amount of. He's an exciting horse for next year.”
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