Unknown Territory

Charlie Appleby opted to avoid last week's King George in favour of an easier task in the G3 Betfred Glorious S. with his beloved Frontiersman (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), but after Glorious Goodwood turned into a meteorologic nightmare Friday's race no longer looks the soft option it was. On the form of his second placings in the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom on June 2 and G2 Princess of Wales's S. at Newmarket on July 13, Godolphin's son of Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) has no equal in this line-up but his trainer is cautious. “He was third on his debut at Goodwood, so he has some experience of the course and I am hoping that the ground is not too testing,” he said. “If we see a repeat performance of Newmarket, which I think he has come on from, he should run well. He just needs more racing experience. The more racing he gets under his belt the better. It looks like visually at home that he has come forward again. He looked great on Wednesday having his blow-out and I'm thrilled with the way he is.”

If there is one who could put it up to Frontiersman it is Saeed Suhail's unexposed Poet's Word (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}), who has not been seen since finishing runner-up to Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire} in the G3 Huxley S. over 10 furlongs at Chester on May 11. He bids to provide Sir Michael Stoute with a fifth renewal, while at the other end of the training spectrum Jedd O'Keeffe is hoping that the July 1 Listed Fred Archer S. winner Lord Yeats (GB) (Yeats {Ire}) can hold his own. Successful by a neck from the re-opposing Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) in that Newmarket contest, the front-runner is one who will be aided by the wet conditions. “The rain is what we were hoping for and the more they get the better,” his handler commented. “I think the trip will suit him and the track will suit him. He's never been to Goodwood, but he's run well at places like Hamilton, which is not too dissimilar. He's in very good form and we'll be employing our usual tactics by riding him positively, so it's just a question of whether he's good enough. I think he deserves his place in the field and we're looking forward to it.”