Qaader Targeting July Festival

[Wandering Eyes]

Sheikh Hamdan’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Qaader (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), last seen finishing second in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot, could reappear in the G2 Superlative S. over seven furlongs on July 11 at Newmarket or the G2 July S. over a furlong shorter over the same course 48 hours earlier.

Assistant trainer Charlie Johnston said, “The July Festival is where you are likely to see Qaader next, although we are flexible as to which race we will run him in. We could go up to seven for the Superlative or stay at six for the July S.

“He was still quite green in the race at Ascot, and didn’t get beat through a lack of speed but through a lack of experience. We would have no problem taking on the Coventry winner [Nando Parrado] again at some point, because Qaader moved through the race like a very good horse.”

The stable’s Eye Of Heaven (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was more of a disappointment at Royal Ascot, beating just three home as the favourite in the G2 Norfolk S., but Johnston is not discouraged by the colt’s future prospects as he prepares for the G3 Molecomb S. on July 29.

“Eye Of Heaven will go straight to the Molecomb,” he said. “The only other race for him over five furlongs would have been the Dragon S. at Sandown on Sunday, but that comes a bit too soon for him off the back of Ascot.

“I would just put a line through his run [in the Norfolk]. His run at Newmarket [on debut] is bomb proof, as is his home work. The ground at Ascot was one factor, along with a few other little things. I hope we will see the real Eye Of Heaven at Goodwood.”

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