Sir Michael Stoute’s runner in the race this weekend is Bay Bridge, who will be the ride of Richard Kingscote. The five-year-old was an excellent winner of this race 12 months ago, but he is yet to land a victory in four efforts on the turf this season.
He was last seen finishing sixth in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe earlier this month. However, the expected rain his enhance his chances, and a return to a mile and two looks to bring out the best in the runner.
James Doyle takes the ride on Dubai Honour for trainer William Haggas this weekend. The five-year-old was last seen finishing last of four in the G1 Coral-Eclipse over a mile and two.
However, he was a winner on soft ground over the same distance at Randwick earlier this year when landing the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The layoff would be a concern, but he was sixth in the race 12 months ago.
Jim Crowley is slated to take the ride on Mostahdaf this weekend for John & Thady Gosden. The five-year-old has been in fine form this season, winning three from five starts.
He was a commanding winner over course and distance in June, beating Luxembourg by four lengths in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes. That was followed up with a success over Nashwa in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes. However, soft ground would be a negative.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23/08/23 | YOR | 10.5 | GF | 9-8 | 1 |
| 21/06/23 | ASC | 10 | Gd | 9-2 | 1 |
| 25/03/23 | MEY | 12 | Gd | 9-0 | 4 |
| 25/02/23 | JAN | 10.5 | GF | 9-0 | 1 |
| 02/10/22 | LON | 12 | VSft | 9-5 | 20 |
My Prospero will be the ride of Tom Marquand this weekend for trainer William Haggas. The four-year-old returned to winning ways over a mile and two at Goodwood last month when landing the Foundation Stakes.
However, he has form to find on Mostahdaf after finishing over six lengths behind his rival in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes over course and distance in June.
Aidan O’Brien’s sole runner in the race on Saturday is Point Lonsdale. The four-year-old has won five from ten starts in stakes company, which includes victory on heavy ground in mid-April over a mile and two at the Curragh.
However, he has been outclassed in the highest company, most recently when sixth of eighth in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21/10/23 | ASC | 10 | Sft | 9-7 | 4 |
| 09/09/23 | LEO | 10 | Gd | 9-9 | 6 |
| 29/07/23 | ASC | 12 | GS | 9-9 | 8 |
| 02/06/23 | EPS | 12 | GF | 9-2 | 3 |
| 12/05/23 | CHS | 10.5 | Sft | 9-3 | 1 |
George Boughey’s runner in the race this weekend is Via Sistina, who will be the ride of Oisin Murphy. The five-year-old was narrowly denied in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet on her previous start when finishing a nose second to Mqse De Sevigne.
She has form over a mile and two, landing the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes by two lengths earlier this season.
Patrice Cottier’s French raider this weekend is Horizon Dore, who will be the ride of Mickael Barzalona. The three-year-old has won on each of her previous four starts over a mile and two, which includes a standout success over Jack Darcy in the G2 Prix Dollar last month.
However, the ground may be a concern, as he finished over five lengths behind Big Rock when second on heavy ground in the G3 Prix du Guiche earlier this year.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21/10/23 | ASC | 10 | Sft | 9-3 | 3 |
| 30/09/23 | LON | 10 | GS | 9-0 | 1 |
| 03/09/23 | LON | 10 | GS | 9-4 | 1 |
| 08/07/23 | SAI | 10 | GS | 9-1 | 1 |
| 11/06/23 | LON | 10 | GS | 8-11 | 1 |
Frankie Dettori’s final chance for a British Group 1 will come on board King of Steel for trainer Roger Varian on Saturday.
The three-year-old was fourth in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes on his previous start, but was a fine winner over a mile and four at Ascot earlier in the season when beating St Leger winner Continuous by three lengths in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes. Was a winner on debut at Nottingham on soft ground.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21/10/23 | ASC | 10 | Sft | 9-3 | 1 |
| 09/09/23 | LEO | 10 | Gd | 9-3 | 4 |
| 29/07/23 | ASC | 12 | GS | 8-12 | 3 |
| 23/06/23 | ASC | 12 | GF | 9-2 | 1 |
| 03/06/23 | EPS | 12 | GF | 9-2 | 2 |
Karl Burke’s runner in the race is Royal Rhyme, who will be the ride of Clifford Lee. The three-year-old was an excellent winner at Ayr on his previous start, beating Pride of America by over a length over a mile and two.
Expected rain is a massive plus for this runner, as he has won on each of his previous two starts on soft ground by wide margins. The latest of those came at Goodwood when landing the Kincsem Handicap by six lengths from Have Secret.
