Godolphin's Simon De Montfort features among a fascinating final field of 11 runners in the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in England tomorrow. The King's Best colt won four times in France for Andre Fabre and will have his first start for Mahmood al Zarooni, the trainer, in the Group 3 contest. The famous royal blue silks will also be carried by the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Film Score.
Circumvent, Paul Cole's recent Newmarket winner, returns to Pattern company, while Dandino also steps up in class following impressive handicap wins at Epsom and Royal Ascot. Corsica, a multiple winner, is a major player for Mark Johnston, Aidan O'Brien sends Fencing Master over from Ireland and Jeremy Noseda saddles both Rebel Soldier and the Highclere Thoroughbred-owned Theology. The latter was beaten by just a nose in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot last time and Harry Herbert, the Highclere racing manager, is hoping for further improvement.
"He's in good form and we are looking forward to the race," Herbert said. "We still hope he could make up into a St Leger horse and we'll see how he gets on at Goodwood." Arctic Cosmos, Dubawi Phantom, and Very Good Day complete the field. Meanwhile, Marcus Tregoning feels the likely quick conditions could bring out the best in Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's Rumoush if she lines up in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday. Having shaped with promise in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, the three-year-old ran a fine fourth in the Oaks at Epsom, finishing just over six lengths behind subsequent Irish Oaks winner Snow Fairy.
Tregoning is keen to have another crack at a Group 1 with the filly and feels next weekend's 10-furlong prize could be the ideal opportunity. "We'll have a look at the Nassau and there is a very dry week forecast, which will suit her," the trainer told At The Races. "It might not suit some of the older fillies like Midday and I'm sure the clerk of the course, Seamus Buckley, will produce good, fast racing ground.
"In my opinion our filly has been unlucky in both of the Classics. In the 1000 Guineas that draw did make a huge difference and I think if she was drawn on the right side we would have been placed. "We went to the Oaks with a favourite's chance but the race didn't work out for us either. "She deserves her chance in a Group 1 and I feel she'll win a very good race by the end of the year." Mick Channon is not planning to deviate from sending Youmzain straight to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after yet another game effort from the veteran in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday. The seven-year-old, owned by Jaber Abdullah, the UAE businessman, was third behind Harbinger in the Ascot Group 1 - the third time he has been placed in the race.
Youmzain does even better at Longchamp in October, as he has finished second for each of the last three years behind Sea The Stars, Zarkava and Dylan Thomas. * Agencies