July Cup Is Notable Speech’s To Lose

[Wandering Eyes]

Newmarket's July Festival winds up on Saturday, with the feature G1 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup the stage for the potential reinvention of Godolphin's Notable Speech (Dubawi). Luckily for him and unfortunately for the rest of us, he has no international heavyweights to deal with in a renewal that looks a bit light on its usual quality.

With the main protagonists of the Commonwealth Cup, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and King's Stand all absent, this looks one of the most winnable editions for some time and it will be deflating if last year's 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes hero doesn't at least make it into the thick of the action.

Lack of true depth in the sprinting ranks may account for the recent plunge on Ballydoyle's Whistlejacket (No Nay Never), who remains a smart colt having won the Prix Morny and the course-and-distance July Stakes last term. Nevertheless, he has contested four other top-flight contests in his career and been beaten in all, starting odds-on in two of them. Needless to say, he has yet to convince that he belongs in the top echelon the way that the stable's former July Cup winners Stravinsky, Mozart, Starspangledbanner, U S Navy Flag and Ten Sovereigns clearly did.

Weak in the betting at present, Godolphin's Sandy Lane Stakes winner Symbol Of Honour (Havana Grey) could surprise a few in his solid, unflashy style while like all of the above Wathnan Racing's consistent Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes third Flora Of Bermuda (Dark Angel) fits the age profile. Only one horse aged older than four has prevailed since 2009 and the way the Al Quoz Sprint-winning five-year-old Believing (Mehmas) flopped at Royal Ascot, she hardly inspires hope that she can turn around that trend. Charlie Appleby said of Symbol Of Honour, “When he gets on the racecourse he's just tough–he gets out on the pace and grinds it out.”

Will We Be Reaching For Superlatives?

As usual, the card's G2 Superlative Stakes has the potential to promote something exciting and in Wootton Bassett's Italy Ballydoyle have a colt who carries all the right vibes into the early Classic pointer. If you were going to draw up a fantasy list of Triple Crown hopes on breeding, connections and early ability, this relative of Serpentine et al would definitely be on it. Crazy, I know, but that is what this meeting is about really. Prospecting for Classic winners and that ultimate dream horse.

Now that we know that the sire is capable of producing class acts over all distances, this relative of Serpentine with Epsom in his blood has Derby potential as well as Guineas. Okay, it is the longest of all longshots at this juncture, but he has the right blend of speed and stamina to at least start the conversation. Aidan O'Brien never gives much away prior to a race, but there was a sense of excitement in the way he said, “We're looking forward to him.”

Firstly, Italy has to get past the Charlie Appleby duo and the trainer who excels in this race seems to favour the Sandown winner Saba Desert (Dubawi) over TDN Rising Star Wild Desert (Too Darn Hot) if jockey bookings are a guide. The latter is a grandson of the Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Gossamer, from that wonderful Gerald Leigh family and therefore is one with a future and not just about now.

Six For Grand Prix De Paris

Sunday's G1 Cygames Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp is staged a day before the Fete Nationale and the 12-furlong feature sees Aidan O'Brien looking to extend his five renewals with the G3 Hampton Court winner Trinity College (Dubawi). Supplemented for the race, fellow Prix du Jockey Club also-ran Leffard (Le Havre) and G3 Prix du Lys runner-up Surabad (Bated Breath) shore up the French defence along with the eye-catching Derby fourth New Ground (New Bay).

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