Friday's G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred S. at Goodwood sees the return of 'TDN Rising Star' Emotionless (Ire) (Shamardal), who was well below expectations on his last two starts having looked a potential world-beater in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster in September. Last of seven in the G1 Dewhurst S. over seven furlongs at Newmarket in October, the son of Unbridled Elaine (Unbridled's Song) had excuses there but was only fifth and never a factor on his return in Royal Ascot's G1 St James's Palace S. June 14. Trainer Charlie Appleby commented, “I'm pleased with the way he goes into this race, but I was pleased with the way he went into the St James's Palace S. That was a big ask taking on three Classic winners on soft ground on his first start of the year. I don't feel disappointed with that run, he was a bit fresh and got tired in that ground. He kept at it on ground that not many were coming from behind on. He comes into this race in good order and we are certain we can get him where we want him and if he puts in the sort of performance he did in the Champagne he should go close. He is a big horse and he is going to be better at four, but at this level he should be very competitive. It would be nice for us to get his confidence back.”
Godolphin also rely on the June 17 G1 Coronation S. fifth Promising Run (Hard Spun), last year's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up and G1 St James's Palace S. fourth Cymric (Kitten's Joy) and last year's G2 Coventry S. winner Buratino (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}).
The latter comes into this on the back of three consecutive unplaced efforts culminating in an eighth in the G3 Hackwood S. over six furlongs at Newbury July 16, and trainer Mark Johnston's assistant Charlie Johnston is hoping the step back up in trip may provide a key. “He has obviously been disappointing this season,” he said. “After his run in the Guineas he came back sprinting and although his run at Haydock was okay his runs at Newcastle and Newbury were disappointing. We are trying going back up to a mile on the basis that the Guineas is the Guineas and maybe in this sort of grade it is worth trying a mile again. It is hard to be confident on his recent form, but it would just be nice to see him back to the level he was last year.”
Saeed bin Suroor is hoping that Promising Run, who was also third in the G3 Musidora S. over an extended 10 furlongs at York May 11, will take to a first-time visor here. “She ran really well in her last race at Ascot and has worked well a few times since then,” he commented. “She is doing good and is physically better than before. The ground is fine for her and she is in good form. It's a tough race, but it's the right race for her.”
Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) provided a major boost to Royal Ascot's G3 Jersey S. when going close in Wednesday's G1 Sussex S. and the two Sir Michael Stoute trainees who finished second and third to him in that seven-furlong contest June 15, Thikriyaat (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) and Forge (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), add weight to this renewal. The former sports the Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum silks and racing manager Angus Gold said of him, “He is a good progressive horse that has got a great attitude. We are hoping the ground won't be too fast for him. We decided on the mile over sticking at seven furlongs. It was felt that with a better draw at Ascot he would have gone closer. It was good to see Ribchester give the Jersey form a boost on Wednesday.”
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