Afsare likely to wheel back in Celebration Mile

Trainer Luca Cumani is eyeing a quick return for Afsare in Saturday's Group 2

Celebration Mile at Goodwood. The six-year-old gelding is among 14 confirmations

for the £100,000 contest after an effortless six-length success in the Sovereign

Stakes over a mile at Salisbury last Thursday.

It was his first start over the trip since he captured a Newmarket maiden in

May 2010, but the son of Dubawi has proved himself a top-class performer over

longer trips, including when an unlucky second in the Arlington Million over 10

furlongs last year.

"Afsare has come out of Salisbury in good form and is likely to run in the

Celebration Mile," Cumani said. "We had been thinking about running him over a

mile for a good while, but unfortunately he refused to go into the stalls at

Ascot for the Summer Mile (July 13).

"Luckily, he went into the stalls at Salisbury and it was a good performance.

"The track at Goodwood will be no problem and I will be happy if he runs

another nice race."

The 14 confirmations include the David Simcock-trained Trade Storm, who will

carry a three-pound penalty; last year's winner Premio Loco; and Nassau Stakes

runner-up Thistle Bird.

Also among those going forward is the Aidan O'Brien-trained trio of Most

Improved, the impressive winner of last season's St James's Palace Stakes;

Jersey Stakes scorer Gale Force Ten; and Cristoforo Colombo, unraced since his

fifth in the Two Thousand Guineas.

Saturday's seven-race card at Goodwood gets underway with the Group 3,

£40,000 Prestige Stakes over seven furlongs. The two-year-old contest, in which

subsequent triple Group 1 winner Sky Lantern finished second last year, has

attracted 10 contenders headed by course-and-distance scorer Amazing Maria,

Richard Hannon's Sweet Solera Stakes runner-up Midnite Angel and impressive

maiden winner Valen.

Goodwood's Bank Holiday meeting concludes on Sunday, when the Group 3,

£60,000 Supreme Stakes takes centre stage. A total of 20 horses have been

entered for the seven-furlong contest, headlined by Group 2 winner Penitent and

impressive Thoroughbred Stakes victor Montiridge.

The going at Goodwood was listed as good on Monday.

"The course has recovered well since the Glorious meeting and is in excellent

condition," Clerk of the Course Seamus Buckley reported. "We had 10 millimeters

of rain over the weekend and going is currently good. The forecast for the rest

of the week is for drier and warmer conditions."

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