This one is for you, mmsc......
by Tony Elves
.
MARAAHEL displayed his mettle when wining the Hardwicke Stakes for a second year running at Royal Ascot and the gallant six-year-old will once again try and grab that elusive Group 1 victory in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday week.
With that engagement in mind, Sir Michael Stoute exercised the Freemason Lodge favourite on the round gallop on Wednesday morning and the Alzao horse looked in grand order under Richard Hills when bounding clear of his lead. He looks better than ever and if guts count for anything will be right in the firing line at his favourite venue.
Richard Hills had taken the leg up on
Wasseema earlier on the trial ground and the Danzig filly moved ahead of
Kaseema in the closing stages of her work before
Lang Shining (Maxine Cowdrey) blew out nicely ahead of his reappearance at Newmarket on Friday night.
Majestic Marauder steps onto the racecourse for the first time at Newbury on Friday afternoon and he looked in good shape for that engagement when moving nicely under Ryan Moore in preparatory spin.
Winter Sunrise and
Jamboretta were another likely pairing to go through their paces together on the trial ground.
Henry Cecil was on the long gallop with
Pillar Of Hercules (Ted Durcan) who travelled smoothly in unison with
Timber Treasure and the white-faced
Rattan once again showed plenty to enthuse about in his spin with his workmate.
Walking Talking moved nicely in his exercise and after the changeover, the grey head of
Templestern could be monitored travelled strongly with his companion.
The James Fanshawe-trained
Sir Gerry heads to Newbury for the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes on Saturday and he travelled well in his work under Mark Denaro with his companion.
The Limekilns had been the venue for Saeed Bin Suroor to exercise
Formal Decree (Kerrin McEvoy) the previous day and the Group 3 winner at the Dubai International Carnival looked in great shape when moving smoothly clear of his lead.
Stage Gift was another to show he will soon be making waves for the Godolphin team when moving well in his work with
Familiar Territory.
Geoff Wragg was on the Summer gallop with his Royal Ascot winner
Heron Bay (Steve Drowne) who showed plenty of response to his riders urgings when coming to join up with
Jack of Trumps.
Dragon Dancer is on the way back and had a steady workout withhis companion.
Peter Chapple-Hyam had
Tariq on the Al Bahathri polytrack for his latest spin and he moved well with
Al Qasi whilst
Striving Storm looked in good order with his workmate.
Western Art (Nick Perry) strode out nicely alongside
Polar Circle (Adrian McCarthy) with both getting the ticks in the right places.
One To Note
Maraahel (Sir Michael Stoute)
Moving in stylish fashion ahead of his big test in the King George.