3 minute read
Group One winner Charming Thought could step up to seven furlongs in next month's Qatar Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.
Trainer Charlie Appleby is considering a switch up in distance for the four-year-old after the son of Oasis Dream finished fourth on his first start in nearly 18 months at Salisbury earlier this month.
Appleby said: "I was very pleased with Charming Thought at Salisbury. The ground was a bit loose as they had a rain shower before racing.
"He travelled well throughout the race. It looked like he hit a flat spot then galloped out to the line nicely.
"We had the horse in the July Cup but we are going to give him a bit more time off and his next race might be the Lennox Stakes.
"He has come out of the race in good order and it might be now that he is a four-year-old, he needs that little bit further.
"He is a well-balanced horse having won at Newmarket as a two-year-old, while Salisbury can be quite undulating so I would have no concerns over the track at Goodwood."
Charming Thought could be joined at Goodwood by stablemate Pretend, who made an encouraging re-appearance on his first start in over a year when second in a Group Three contest at Newcastle on Saturday .
Appleby said: "I was delighted with Pretend. He came into that race after a long lay-off, he travelled well and I was pleased with the way he finished. Naturally he will come on for that having had a long break.
"It didn't surprise us that he ran that well as I was pleased with his homework and we knew he handled the conditions, which was an advantage.
"He could possibly go for the King George Stakes at Goodwood. We would have to supplement him for the race, but it looks like he has come out of his last run well so far."