'Henry' on track for Tamayuz showdown
Just seven runners will take to the track in tomorrow's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot -- but the anticipated match between Henrythenavigator and Tamayuz is still on.
Bookmakers have been divided over which of the pair to make favourite, with Aidan O'Brien's Henrythenavigator losing his glittering winning streak in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp.
He was beaten into fifth behind Goldikova, trained, like Tamayuz, by Freddie Head.
Henrythenavigator and Tamayuz are closely linked by form through John Gosden's probable third favourite Raven's Pass, who curtailed a run of second places behind the pair with an easy victory in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood.
O'Brien and Head are also responsible for Honoured Guest and Racinger respectively, while there is further French interest through Windsor Forest Stakes winner Sabana Perdida.
The out-of-form Winker Watson completes the septet.
A total of 10 colts are set to go to post in the the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes which also takes place tomorrow.
The field is headed by Vintage Stakes winner Orizaba, but Jeremy Noseda has confirmed that Sans Frontieres has been withdrawn after suffering a last-minute setback.
O'Brien will be represented by Indian Ocean and Set Sail, while Roger Charlton fields supplementary entry Cityscape.
Connections of Cityscape hope the juvenile can continue to progress as he tackles Group company for the first time.
Charlton's colt finished a close-up second on his debut at Newmarket before running away with a small race at Salisbury earlier in the month.
"First time out he ran very green at Newmarket and it took him a while to cop on to what was required," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah.
"At Salisbury, I think he learned a bit because he was in amongst them.
"Then when he got out, he just extended very well. The third horse from that race (Akhenaten) came out and won a Chester maiden pretty comfortably so the form has been franked a little bit.
"I think all Group Two races are strong and. I think the Royal Lodge is a pretty solid race," Grimthorpe said.
The form of Orizaba's success in the Vintage Stakes could hardly have worked out better and connections are hopeful of another show on Saturday.
Mick Channon's juvenile had subsequent Mill Reef scorer Lord Shanakill back in second at Glorious Goodwood, while Gimcrack Stakes hero Shaweel could only finish fifth.
A spokesman for Channon said: "He's delighted us since the Vintage Stakes and worked well last weekend.
"He's had a nice break since Goodwood and he's fresh. The ground should be fine for him."
Firth Of Fifth, Almiqdaad, Jukebox Jury, Measurement, On Our Way and Solario Stakes third Patrician's Glory complete the line-up.
Leading two-year-old filly Rainbow View has been declared among a field of eight for the Meon Valley Fillies' Mile.
John Gosden's representative has been untroubled in her three races so far, winning a maiden, the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes and the Group 2 May Hill Stakes by a cumulative distance of 14 lengths.
She faces plenty of interesting sorts, headed by Luca Cumani's Fantasia, who is following the same route taken with the trainer's 2001 winner Gossamer.
Golden Stream is also unbeaten for Michael Stoute and The Queen, while David Wachman's Dreamtheimpossible recently made a good impression at the Curragh.
Beat Seven, Never Lose, Brief Candle and Silver Games all appear to have something to find with the rest of the field.
- Thomas Kelly
