Mahsoob looks ready to make move
Mahsoob can make the transition to Pattern race performer with the minimum of fuss in the Princess Of Wales's Arqana Racing Club Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow.
John Gosden's charge arrives unbeaten in four starts to date, kicking off with a late racecourse bow in a Kempton maiden at the back end of last season.
That effort earned the four-year-old an initial mark of 89 and it was clear from the start of the campaign that the handicapper's assessment was wide of the mark as he lifted a competitive event at Newbury on his return before following up in a similarly well-contested heat at York.
Those runs prompted Gosden to raise his sights to Listed level at Royal Ascot and the Wolferton Handicap proved a fruitful hunting ground as Mahsoob notched a workmanlike half-length verdict, although it is anyone's guess how much he had left in the tank that day.
Group One entries demonstrate the regard in which he is held and while he has a little to find with a couple of his rivals here off judged on the official ratings, Mahsoob is lightly raced and certainly does not appear to have finished improving yet.
Future Empire can reverse Ascot form with Tommy Docc in the Group Three Bahrain Trophy.
The pair finished behind Aloft in the Queen's Vase at the Royal meeting, with Tommy Docc holding Future Empire by half a length to cling on to the runner-up spot.
However, Future Empire was given plenty to do that day and was never closer than at the finish suggesting he could have the measure of his old adversary if he can be a little more handily placed.
Eltezam ran an excellent race in the Coventry to finish third behind Buratino and a repeat of that performance would certainly put him in the frame for the Arqana July Stakes.
The winner is one of the juvenile stars of the campaign so far and proved a bit too swift in the finish after Eltezam had raced prominently in the early exchanges.
CARLISLE: 1.55 Patrick, 2.30 Market Choice, 3.00 Maureb, 3.35 Cooper, 4.10 War Strike, 4.45 Nelson's Bay, 5.20 Major Mac.
DONCASTER: 2.20 Woody Bay, 2.50 Dream Mover, 3.25 Strath Burn, 4.00 Miss Van Gogh, 4.35 Master Of Speed, 5.10 Bashiba, 5.40 Tijori.
EPSOM: 6.10 Mister Mayday, 6.40 Surbett, 7.10 Prim And Proper, 7.45 Roy Rocket, 8.20 Taraz, 8.50 Langley Vale.
LEOPARDSTOWN: 5.50 Deauville, 6.20 Angel Of Joy, 6.50 Stellar Glow, 7.20 Deontas, 7.55 Hurricane Sky, 8.30 Loch Garman, 9.00 Diakali.
NEWBURY: 6.30 Dark Amber, 7.00 Tihana, 7.30 Shaakis, 8.05 Bastille Day, 8.40 Bari, 9.10 Star Of Spring.
NEWMARKET: 2.10 FUTURE EMPIRE (NAP), 2.40 Eltezam, 3.15 Mahsoob, 3.45 Awesome Power, 4.20 Salvo, 4.55 Shadow Hunter, 5.30 Bossy Guest, 6.00 Maljaa.
DOUBLE: Future Empire and Eltezam.