Having looked an exciting prospect when winning his maiden with real verve at Newbury May 13, the subsequent flop of Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Epsom Derby briefly tempered enthusiasm about the Niarchos homebred, but Wednesday's G3 Beringice Gordon S. at Goodwood offers the chance to get back on track. The son of the Oaks heroine Light Shift (Kingmambo) was only 12th in the June 4 blue riband, but Saturday's King George hints that the form of that race may be strong, and he races on faster ground that may suit better as he bids to extend trainer Sir Michael Stoute's record of eight winners. Alan Cooper, racing manager to Flaxman Stables, said, “We gave him plenty of time after the Derby and this looks a good opportunity for him. Hopefully he'll acquit himself well in what is an interesting race. I know Sir Michael is very happy with him. The Derby was quite a rough race and he got a big bump. Maybe he was a little inexperienced to handle a track like Epsom, but there's only one Derby and you have give it a go. He has some nice entries and I'm sure this will be a good guideline as to where we should be aiming.”
Also at Epsom was Shogun (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), whose form figures do not tell the true story of his ability as virtually every time he has run the ground has been blighted by rain. Amazingly, Derrick Smith's bay has yet to enjoy ground faster than good and on the form of his second between Moonlight Magic (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. over a mile and a quarter at Leopardstown May 8, he is unequivocally the best horse in this line-up.
Jim Bolger sends across a fascinating contender in Mubarak Al Naemi's Qatari Hunter (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who has won four handicaps on the bounce culminating in Leopardstown's “Nasrullah” over 10 furlongs July 7.
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