RacingGlobetrotting Mamool can continue Godolphin's late-summer revival by bagging the Stan James Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury today. Layman's success at Salisbury on Thursday highlights exactly the good form the boys in blue are enjoying at present and Mamool is an ideal candidate to lift this Group Two prize.
The six-year-old has landed Pattern races in England and Germany and showed himself to still be at the top of his game after injury problems when making a winning seasonal debut at Goodwood last time. Mamool stayed on strongly to see off Dubai Success in a Listed race and although that win was over a mile and a half, the gutsy entire has plenty of form at longer distances and will be right at home over the extended 13-furlong trip.
Last year's dual Classic winner Attraction can bounce back to form in the stanjamesuk.com Hungerford Stakes. Mark Johnston's filly notched up four Group One wins last season, including the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas double, but a trip to Hong Kong for her first run of the year failed to bear fruit.
The daughter of Efisio was unable to take her customary position up front after a slow start and things never fell right for her after that. She eventually finished 11th behind Bullish Luck and has not raced since, but this seven-furlong event looks an ideal opportunity and she can use her early speed to burn off her rivals.
Nigella will take all the beating in the stanjamesuk.com St Hugh's Stakes judged on her run at the Berkshire track last time. Ed McMahon's filly won the race on the stands side in the Super Sprint but Lady Livius had just got up on the opposite rail to win by a half a length. That form should prove good enough.
Hidden Dragon can repeat his success of two years ago in the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Stakes at Ripon. Paul Blockley's charge has lost his way a bit since he lifted the ultra-competitive event but is showing definite signs that he is on the way back.
Having slipped down the handicap, Hidden Dragon put in a creditable run in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood before showing his liking for Ripon when finishing third there earlier this month.
He was beaten less than a length by Inter Vision over this course and distance, his best performance since finishing second at Epsom in April. Given that Hidden Dragon will be running off a 6lb lower mark than 2003 and has a good draw, it could prove foolish to ignore him.
Crack filly Divine Proportions should be the star turn tomorrow in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay le Buffard-Jacques le Marois at Deauville. Unbeaten in nine starts to date, including five Group Ones, the dual Classic winner steps into unknown territory by taking on older colts for the first time.
Despite her 100 per cent record, the Pascal Bary-trained filly still remains something of an untapped talent as she has yet to come under maximum pressure, but this race will surely reveal just how good she is.
