Powerful chance for Slattery colt in smart renewal of Sapphire Stakes
'I'm as confident as I can be I suppose, I wouldn't swap him for another horse in there anyway. His form stands up. He's raced against Arizona Blaze twice and beaten him twice.
'Mgheera is a Group Two winner, but she's got the penalty. We've been taking our time with him, but everything has been good with him. We won't know if he's ready for the next step until we do it.
'I think with a bit of luck in running we should take a good bit of beating.'
Arizona Blaze was second at Royal Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup last time out and was also second at the Breeders' Cup last autumn.
'We're expecting a big run. He's a lovely horse and he never seems to run a bad race,' said trainer Adrian Murray.
'He's been second in two Group Ones, at the Breeders' Cup and Royal Ascot, he was third at Ascot last year, he's won two Group Threes, he's been a great horse for us.
'Hopefully we get get his head in front in a Group One before the season is out.
'If the winner at Ascot (Time For Sandals) had been on his side I think he might have battled back because they were so far apart he probably thought he'd won, but that's racing.
'All ground comes alike to him, it doesn't seem to be an issue, so hopefully he's got a great chance.'
Only four line up in the GAIN Railway Stakes, with Aidan O'Brien responsible for Queen Mary winner True Love and Puerto Rico, Ger Lyons runs Learntodiscover and Murray sends Power Blue, fifth in the Coventry Stakes.
'Power Blue hasn't been running badly since his debut. He's a fair horse, he's never disappointed,' said Murray.
'He ran a fair race in Ascot and hopefully he'll put it up to the favourite (True Love).
'We've all heard what Aidan says of Albert Einstein and he didn't beat him far in the Marble Hill so that must give us a great chance.'
A field of nine has been declared for the Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup, with Joseph O'Brien saddling three.
Al Riffa sets the standard having been runner-up in the Hardwicke last time out, Uxmal won the Queen's Vase last year but has not run since while Leinster has been fourth in the Chester Cup and Ascot Stakes the last twice.
'Al Riffa steps up in distance for the first time and we're looking forward to seeing how that goes. Leinster ran well at Royal Ascot and Uxmal is having his first run off a lay off and it is nice to get him back on track,' said O'Brien.
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Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
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Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Leader Live
Illinois part of strong-looking cast for Goodwood Cup
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5 hours ago
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