Group Three Diomed Stakes Guide 2022

Charlie Appleby’s 4 year old heads the market here after being in red hot form so far this season.

A gelding operation improved him dramatically for his 3 year old campaign and he handily won three handicaps with ease over 7 furlongs. Climbing to a rating of 105.

With handicaps seemingly off the table, he returned to action in Meydan where he ran well in listed company but shaped like 7 furlongs was too sharp for him.

Unable to carry a big weight in the Lincoln, he’s since managed to defy a mark of 105 over a mile before winning a listed race at Windsor last time out with absolute ease.

He looks more than ready to step up to group company and is the one to beat on paper.

Another for Charlie Appleby and the all blue of Godolphin, 6 year old Zakouski is relatively lightly raced for his age and has spent a good portion of his career running over in Meydan.

Tasting some success over in Dubai, he scored a handicap and a group 2 over there back in 2020 over a mile. A return there in 2021 yielded yet more success with him scoring a group 2 over 9 furlongs.

Only a couple more runs last season saw him win a listed race over a mile at Newmarket easily before being well beaten over 10 furlongs in Bahrain.

His trips to Meydan haven’t played out this season with him being beaten in two races over 9 furlongs but dropping back to a mile here gives him a chance.

Escobar has had 54 career starts and has been a highly consistent sort for connections.

Mainly seen in handicaps throughout his career he’s been successful over a mile and 7 furlongs in his career.

Earning himself a mark in the low 100’s consistently, his mark has often seen him weighted out of big handicap events but he has put in some spellbinding efforts off big weights.

Notably a bloodless win in the 2019 Balmoral handicap and most recently a gutsy win over 7 furlongs at York.

A rating of 107 takes him out of handicap ranks so he lines up here but he has to prove he has the class to make this transition up to group company.

Likely vulnerable to younger, improving types.

The Gosdens send their 4 year old Megallan here after a couple of decent placed efforts in group company this season.

Running over 9 and 10 furlongs seemingly hasn’t suited him but he has run with credit in group 2 and group 3 company.

A decent campaign last year saw him capture a listed race at Newcastle over a mile and a group 3 over a mile.

Tried over further he didn’t quite get home over 10 furlongs.

Seemingly at his best over a mile, dropping in trip will suit and he’s already shown the class to be capable at this level.

A 5 year old gelding who’s spent most of his career in handicap company, Finest Sound scored in handicaps over a mile up to 10 furlongs.

Rounding out the season with a good run over 9 furlongs in group 3 company, in a higher grade he just didn’t quite have the stamina to last the longer trip. Just fading into 3rd late on.

Returning to action this season over in Meydan, he ran a career best to be 2nd in a group 1 over 9 furlongs. Again just fading late on, he got headed in the final half furlong.

Dropping back in trip looks like a smart move and he arrives on form. Not to be dismissed.

A lightly raced 4 year old for Charles Hills, Mutsaabeq won his debut as a 2 year old smartly before struggling in some higher class races as a 3 year old.

Winning a conditions race over 7 furlongs with ease, he couldn’t lie up in the 2000 Guineas or other group races throughout the season. He did manage to capture a second conditions race over 7 furlongs without breaking sweat again.

At the start of this season he captured his third conditions race at Thirsk, again over 7 furlongs before putting in a career best to be 2nd in a group 2 over a mile at Sandown. Only going down by a neck.

He looks well worth his place at this level now and can be a serious threat to the favourite.