G1 King's Stand S. winner Profitable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) has been supplemented for Saturday's G1 Darley July Cup. The Clive Cox-trained 4-year-old is three-for-three over five furlongs this season and his elevation towards the top of the European sprinting ranks this year recently prompted Darley to secure the breeding rights to the Alan Spence colourbearer, a move that was rewarded following his Royal Ascot win. The Newmarket six furlong feature will also see a clash of the generations with Karl Burke's Group-1 winning filly Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) set to represent the 3-year-olds while at the other end of the age spectrum Eddie Lynam intends to field his stalwart, 9-year-old Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}).
Henry Candy plans a twin assault on the race with both G1 Diamond Jubilee S. winner Twilight Son (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) and Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) remaining in the mix. It is Twilight Son, seeking his third top-level victory, who is currently heading the betting market and his trainer is happy with his condition since Royal Ascot.
“I do think he has progressed from Ascot–going on what Ryan Moore has said he will improve with that run,” said Candy. “The attitude and his work have been very good. Obviously it is a short time between two Group 1s, so we have not done a lot of work. I think it will be a stronger race than the Ascot race. He will need to be a little bit better than at Ascot, but I am hopeful that he will be.”
Candy feels there is very little between his challengers and he would not be surprised to see Limato emerge on top on Saturday.
“Limato wears his heart on his sleeve and is a tough little fighter on the track,” he continued. “It would not surprise me if he did beat Twilight Son as the BHA rate him 2lb higher, which is fair enough.”
Charlie Hills is another trainer who could field a pair of challengers with strong credentials. Magical Memory (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) and Cotai Glory (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) were both narrowly beaten in their respective Group 1 sprints at Royal Ascot. Sam Hoskins, racing manager to Magical Memory's owners Kennnet Valley Throughbreds thinks their charge can make the breakthrough at Group 1 level.
“Hopefully he should go there with a really good chance,” said Hoskins. “At Ascot he made up quite a lot of ground very quickly and showed all his ability. He was only beaten half a length despite the race not going right and the ground being wrong, but Saturday should be a quick pace and the ground should be fine.”
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