Washington DC to capitalise on his hard-fought Royal Ascot success by supplementing considerable gains in the group three, �75000, Molecomb Stakes over five furlongs of 'good to soft' ground at 'Glorious Goodwood' this afternoon, day two of the magnificent five which stretch all through this final week of July.
In the closing stages of the extremely fast-run 'Windsor Castle' last month Aidan O'Brien's charge, one of nine winners at the 'Royal' meeting for Ryan Moore, held on grimly to fend off Areen and Steady Pace, both of which have confirmed value of that form with sterling efforts in similar company.
This Zoffany colt is progressive but he'll need to be right on his game if Richard Hannon-trained King Of Rooks reproduces his best time-handicap mark, achieved under Richard Hughes when winning a Sandown maiden unchallenged by five lengths.
He subsequently faltered somewhat with Frankie Dettori in the group two 'Norfolk' when a length third to Waterloo Bridge, a stable companion of Washington DC!
Chances are King Of Rooks wasn't given sufficient 'recovery time' and may have been bottomed.
This test against Washington DC will therefore be intriguing not to mention informative when Joseph O'Brien presses the button on the massively-fancied Irish raider.
Irish champion jockey Joseph* is back on the big stage because Moore remains sidelined with an injury which is rather obscure.
Ryan prefers not to reveal all but he's probably been advised to give himself plenty of 'recovery time!'
Hannon and 'Hughesie' will be represented by once-raced Winter Rose in the thirteen-runner 2-y-o Maiden Stakes over six furlongs, look no further for the winner; this Dark Angel filly is strongly-fancied by the 'Two Dicks' and apparently reckoned the stable banker for GG!
Dettori journeys onto 'good to soft' Sandown where he'll climb aboard John Gosden-trained Cartago in the 2-y-o Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs.
Considerable losses, incurred over course and distance earlier this month, should be recouped by my nap.
Selections:
11.45 Washington DC
12.20 Winter Rose
3.00 Cartago