Group Three Sovereign Stakes Salisbury Guide 2023

Sir Michael Stoute boasts one runner in the Group Three Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury on Thursday in the form of Regal Reality. The experienced eight-year-old has landed a group three race every year since 2018, including this race three years ago and most recently the Group Three Diomed Stakes at Epsom a couple of months ago, just under a length ahead of 2/1fav Highland Avenue. That was a nice bounce back to form after a couple of below-par runs and the gelding is usually consistently competitive at this level.

Another big run is expected of him in the hands of Richard Kingscote.

Charles Hills has one runner in the Group Three Sovereign Stakes on Thursday with his seven-year-old Pogo. The horse arrives here on the back of some poor form, finishing outside the top three in four of the last seven outings but was a more encouraging third in the Group Three Criterion Stakes at Newmarket last time out. His last win came in the Group Two Challenge Stakes at Newmarket last October and he does possess the ability to do well in this company here despite recent times.

One to keep an eye on and is certainly still in the mix. Rob Hornby will do the steering.

Charlie Johnston sends one runner to this group three contest on Thursday in the form of Chichester. The six-year-old arrives here in pretty good nick, having won twice in his last five runs at Newcastle (C2 AW) and most recently York (Listed Ganton Stakes). He also boasts runner-up finishes at Chelmsford City and Newcastle, runs for new yard here (previously with Keith Dalglish). This requires a bit more but looks like he is worth a chance at this sort of level.

Not completely dismissed here but requires a step up. Kevin Stott is booked to ride.

John and Thady Gosden send one runner to the Group Three Sovereign Stakes on Thursday in the form of Mighty Ulysses. The four-year-old arrives at this grouped contest on the back of finishing fifth in the Group Two Summer Mile at Ascot last month, perhaps needing the run on the back of 11 months away from the track. His last win came in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket last July, winning by over a length after a decent fifth in the Group One St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot a month prior.

He should do better at this level and should come on nicely following his first run of the year last time out. Oisin Murphy is booked to ride.

Roger Teal sends one runner to the Group Three Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury in the form of Dancing Magic. The three-year-old arrives at this contest as the joint-youngest horse with Embesto. The 101-rated runner has had nine career runs so far, winning none of them but finishing in the top three on three occasions at Newbury, Haydock and Newmarket. The latter has been his best effort so far, finishing third in the Group Three Craven Stakes but has been below that form since.

This will be a tough ask on current form, Tom Marquand is employed to ride.

Roger Varian sends one runner to this group three contest over one mile at Salisbury on Thursday in the form of Embesto. The three-year-old has made a highly promising start to life on the track, winning his first two starts at Yarmouth and Doncaster by six and one-and-a-half-lengths respectively. Both of those wins came at class five level, before stepping into Listed company last time out, finishing second in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket last month by three lengths to Nostrum.

He looks likely to continue his upward curve and go well again here. David Egan will do the steering.