3 minute read
Diego Velazquez heads a field of eleven for the final British Group 1 of the season at Doncaster on Saturday.
Aidan O'Brien is responsible for five of the eleven entries at the five-day stage with Diego Velazquez heading the ante-post market at a general price of 5/4.
The Ballydoyle maestro has landed the Group 1 prize a record eleven times and arrives in search of a third-straight success in the contest following victories for Luxembourg in 2021 and dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin last year.
Diego Velazquez arrives unbeaten after success over the potentially reopposing Capulet in the Group 2 KMPG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown on his second career outing. O'Brien also has Battle Cry, Chief Little Rock and Henry Adams all in the mix at this stage.
Whilst Charlie Appleby is yet to take out the seven-furlong juvenile contest, owners Godolphin were successful with the Bin Suroor-trained Ibn Khaldun back in 2007 and they look to hold the chief threat to Diego Velazquez courtesy of Appleby's supplemented Ancient Wisdom.
The son of Dubawi created a notable impression when winning the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket two weeks ago.
John and Thady Gosden could be represented by soft-ground course and distance debut winner God's Window, while the runner-up that day, Redhot Whisper, also features in the eleven entries.
Roger Teal's Dancing Gemini will be stepping up to a mile for the first time on the back of his success in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at the St Leger meeting and the Lambourn-based trainer is excited about his colt's prospects.
He said: "Everything seems spot on with him and it's all good at this stage,"
"He was very impressive at Doncaster last time and we're looking forward to giving it a go.
"I think the mile will suit him, as he certainly wasn't stopping there over seven furlongs – and when he won at Newbury, he was only just getting going in the closing stages.
"Soft ground obviously wouldn't be a problem as it was pretty testing up there last month but, looking at the weather forecast, it could well end up heavy and that is always a bit of an unknown.
"But all we can do is roll our sleeves up and get on with it. It's a good race and something like this is never going to be easy, but we'll be giving it a real go."
Devil's Point also remains in contention for yesterday's Group 1-winning trainer David Menuisier and Deira Mile, who was turned over a short price at Chelmsford last time, could make his debut for Owen Burrows after leaving Charlie Johnston.
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