Brazen Beau, Muhaarar clash in July Cup

Twelve years ago, Juddmonte's subsequent sire sensation Oasis Dream downed

the Antipodean god Choisir on the gradients of Newmarket's July Course in an

ultimate clash of the sprinting generations and since then Australian interest

has been scant and unrewarded in the July Cup (Eng-G1). The country's celebrity

Takeover Target could manage only seventh in 2006 and in 2009 and on the latter

occasion the 11-8 favorite Scenic Blast was a disappointing 10th, so this has

been as unhappy a hunting ground for the Southern Hemisphere raiders as Royal

Ascot has not.

On Saturday, it is up to Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) to deliver and the

recent Godolphin acquisition has a score to settle after finishing second in a

renewal of the Diamond Jubilee S. (Eng-G1) in which events played against him.

Kept apart from the remainder for most of that June 20 highlight by Craig

Williams, the Newmarket H. (Aus-G1) winner was unable to resist the late thrust

of Undrafted (Purim). Emerging with reputation intact, the ride he received was

the subject of a large amount of criticism and James Doyle will likely be keen

to carry out more conventional tactics here.

"I've been privileged to train a few nice horses over the years, but he is

right up there with the best of them. Winning the July Cup would not just be a

career highlight, but a life highlight," trainer Chris Waller commented. "He is

up there with the best sprinters in Australia and as you have seen on the world

stage, they perform well every year. I would not be swapping him for any other

horse. That last run would have brought him on and there is a little bit more

left in the tank."

If there is an Oasis Dream lurking here, it is most certainly in the form of

Muhaarar, a son of that luminary who tore apart a seemingly deep first edition

of Royal Ascot's Commonwealth Cup (Eng-G1). Previously, last year's Gimcrack S.

(Eng-G2) scorer had taken Newbury's Greenham S. (Eng-G3) over seven furlongs

April 18 so stamina will not be an issue tackling this stiff six-furlong test.

"I'm delighted with the horse. He's done well since Ascot and his weight is

good and he's showing all the right signs," trainer Charlie Hills commented.

"The only slight reservation I have is the 'Ascot bounce.' A lot of horses who

ran at Ascot haven't run up to form since. It does take a lot out of them. He

seems in good form, but you never really know until they go to war again, so

that is a bit of a concern. We know he's a horse going in the right direction

and he's still improving. I don't think we've seen the best of him yet."

Ignoring that the betting market suggests it is a two-horse war, the form

book says that the veteran five-furlong specialist Sole Power (Kyllachy) and

last year's Haydock Sprint Cup (Eng-G1) winner G Force (Tamayuz) should not be

left out of calculations. The former is part of a two-pronged attack from the

Eddie Lynam stable alongside the three-year-old filly Anthem Alexander (Starspangledbanner),

who was third in the Commonwealth and has to find some improvement.

Success for the eight-year-old Sole Power would be a remarkable feat, as he

is yet to win over this trip and has been notably below-par on four of his seven

attempts at it in pattern company.

"I have not done much with either of them since Ascot and have just tried to

freshen them up, but they both seem very well," Lynam said. "Sole Power ran well

in a very good July Cup two years ago, finishing fifth, beaten in a photo for

third, and though he has never won over six furlongs, he's finished in the frame

in a Haydock Sprint Cup and been second in a Group 1 in Hong Kong over this

trip. They just didn't go the end-to-end gallop that he needs (when fifth in the

June King's Stand S. [Eng-G1]) at Ascot. He owes us nothing and we are not

afraid to lose.

"Anthem Alexander is trying to become the first three-year-old filly to win

this race since Habibti (in 1983), so it's a big ask for her and it looks hard

for her to reverse Ascot form with Muhaarar."

Shadwell's second string is the William Haggas-trained Muthmir (Invincible

Spirit), who was third in the King's Stand.

"Muthmir has been very well since Royal Ascot and is not the kind of horse

that needs a lot of work," his conditioner said. "I am not sure that he would

have won the King's Stand Stakes with a clear run, but he was not beaten far and

was staying on well at the end, so my first impression after the race was that

maybe he needed a step back up in trip. I do have some reservations about the

undulations of the July Course, as all his best form has come on flat tracks."

The Superlative S. (Eng-G2) has played host to some lofty talent in recent

times and Saturday's edition, with so many unexposed types in the line-up, could

possibly unearth another in the mold of Dubawi, Horatio Nelson and Olympic

Glory.

If the betting is the guide, then if it comes it will most likely be in the

form of the almost obligatory Ballydoyle representative Air Vice Marshal (War

Front), who was impressive when scoring over this trip at Gowran Park June 21.

That is a track which the stable have used to launch the likes of Spartacus and

Antonius Pius and there was much to like about the way the half-brother to the

high-class Contested (Ghostzapper) went through his race.

Michael Tabor's challenger will be tested by the unbeaten Taking Libertys

(Makfi), who comes here on the back of five- and six-furlong wins at Beverley

April 15 and Pontefract May 22. Cosmo Charlton, who manages the owning

syndicate, is hoping he can hold his own in this elite company.

"He's been a really exciting horse for us this year. He's done everything

well. He looks to be crying out for the step up to seven furlongs and I think

he's the type of horse that will continue to improve through the year."

Mark Johnston has proven the foremost trainer of juveniles in Britain so far

this year and his duo here include the Coventry S. (Eng-G2) fourth Beaverbrook

(Cape Cross) and the June 26 Doncaster conditions scorer Champagne City

(Tobougg).

"I hope we have made the right decision taking Beaverbrook up to seven

furlongs in what looks a very hot Superlative S.," he commented. "The horse has

earned his spot in the race and I think he is a progressive horse with more to

come. It is a big jump up in grade for Champagne City, but like Beaverbrook, he

has earned a shot at a race like this."

Ascot

With the two favorites for Saturday's Summer Mile (Eng-G2) at Ascot, Qatar

Racing could well be celebrating a favorable outcome with either Arod (Teofilo)

or Lightning Spear (Pivotal).

Like chalk and cheese in what they have so far accomplished in the public

realm, the former comes here on the back of a third in the Lockinge S. (Eng-G1)

at Newbury May 16 and a win in Epsom's Diomed S. (Eng-G3) June 5 while the

unbeaten Lightning Spear steps out of handicap company for the first time.

Since being dropped in trip from middle distances, last year's Dante S.

(Eng-G2) runner-up and Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) fourth Arod has thrived and the

manner in which he dealt with the multiple group winner Custom Cut (Notnowcato)

in the Diomed over an extended mile left a lasting impression.

"We've been very happy with him since Epsom and decided to skip the Queen

Anne at the Royal meeting to come here instead," trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam

explained. "I'm sure there's more improvement in him. He seems to be getting

stronger all the time. We know he likes fast ground -- the faster the better."

Lightning Spear has doubled his tally this term with wins at Lingfield April

29 and at Salisbury June 24 that may have masked his true ability and trainer

Olly Stevens is keen to try him in this kind of company.

"He's unbeaten over a mile and Ascot's stiff course wouldn't worry me at

all," he commented. "A smaller field was less risky. Had he run in a handicap on

Saturday, it would have been his last handicap anyway before going on to Group

races. We just decided to grasp the nettle a little bit early."

Godolphin's 2014 Celebration (Eng-G2) and Boomerang Mile (Ire-G2) winner Bow

Creek (Shamardal) would offer stern opposition if able to rebound from a

comeback sixth in the April 24 Sandown Mile (Eng-G2), while the Lockinge fifth

and subsequent John of Gaunt S. (Eng-G3) scorer Cable Bay (Invincible Spirit) is

another who holds valid claims now that connections appear to have found the key

to him.

"The ground might be slightly on the quick side for him, but he's a horse who

is still improving and I don't think we've seen the best of him yet," trainer

Charlie Hills said.