3 minute read

Charlie Appleby feels Masar has the right credentials to run a big race in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on Friday.

The son of New Approach goes into the Grade One over a mile with a Group Three success in the Solario Stakes under his belt, followed by a good effort to take third place in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

"I think the ground will suit him and he will get the trip, no problem," said Appleby.

"He has been over the trip, having finished third in the Lagardere. He has come out of that well and I think he has got a nice profile going into the Breeders' Cup.

"He has got enough experience under his belt and he is quick ground horse, so he ticks a few boxes."

George Scott has his fingers crossed James Garfield can last out the mile after winning the Mill Reef Stakes over six furlongs in tremendous style.

"It's always a little bit concerning when you fly a horse, especially first time with a young horse, but he's eaten and hasn't spiked a temperature and has held his condition well. He's ticked all the boxes so far," Scott told At The Races.

"I haven't done too much with him since the Mill Reef, but certainly physically he's probably stronger than he was when he into that race, just because of the time of the year. He's had a bit more time to grow and strengthen up.

"On the ratings he has to improve, but he won a Group Two pretty convincingly and broke the track record in the process.

"If he does need to take another step forward, I'm sure he's capable of doing that."

Richard Spencer is hoping Rajasinghe can return to the form that saw him win the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"He's in good form and travelled over well. We're very happy with him," said the Newmarket handler.

"I think the ground was the reason he didn't perform to his best last time. It was a bit on the slow side and hopefully we'll get fast ground out here. The trip should be fine. He's been finishing his races off well.

"If you put a line through his last run, he's finished close in the July Stakes behind Cardsharp and US Navy Flag and that puts him right in with a chance.

"It's nice to be here. It's something we've not taken lightly."

Richard Fahey's Gimcrack scorer Sands Of Mali completes the British bid.

Aidan O'Brien relies upon Mendelssohn, who out-ran his odds of 50-1 when second to stablemate US Navy Flag in the Dewhurst.

"Mendelssohn had a big jump up in his last run - his first two runs he was very green, he has just taken his time learning," said the Ballydoyle trainer.

"We put the blinkers on at home in his last piece of work and he grew another leg, that is why we left them on."

The other Irish raider is Gordon Elliott's Beckford, who was fifth to US Army Flag in the Middle Park Stakes on his latest start.