Godolphin duo seeks G1 breakthrough

Three-year-old colts Highland Avenue and La Barrosa aim to build on admirable efforts in testing conditions as they return to a quicker surface for the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes on day one of Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

Highland Avenue (William Buick) battled gamely to go down by half a length to Mostahdaf on soft going when carrying a 3lb penalty in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown Park on Thursday.

The homebred son of Dubawi had previously rattled off a hat-trick of wins, twice scoring on the all-weather at Kempton Park before comfortably accounting for Secret Protector in the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket’s Craven meeting in April.

His trainer Charlie Appleby is also represented in the mile feature by La Barrosa (James Doyle) who faded to sixth on heavy ground in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on May 22.

Last season’s G3 Tattersalls Stakes victor also ran well at the Craven meeting, chasing home subsequent 2,000 Guineas runner-up Master Of The Seas in the G3 Craven Stakes.

Charlie Appleby said: “We have been pleased with Highland Avenue going into this race. The wide draw is a slight disadvantage on the round course at Ascot but his homework has gone well.

“He learned plenty at Sandown and came forward again for that run, while ground conditions will suit him better this time. We are hoping that he can be a big player as he steps up to the big league.

“La Barrosa travelled well in the Irish 2,000 Guineas but couldn’t pick up on the ground. Returning to a faster surface is definitely going to suit and, if he can reproduce his second in the Craven Stakes, it will make him a contender.”

Forest Of Dean (Frankie Dettori), successful in the G3 Winter Derby on the all-weather earlier this year, bids for another significant victory over a mile and a quarter in the Listed Wolferton Stakes for John & Thady Gosden on the same card.

He is joined by the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Volcanic Sky (Pat Cosgrave), who captured the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy at this year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival.

Lightly raced four-year-old Untold Story (Oisin Murphy), who has won or placed on all four of his career starts for Saeed bin Suroor, stretches out to two and a half miles in the Ascot Handicap.

Both of Godolphin’s principal trainers have runners in the closing 14-furlong Copper Horse Handicap. G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy third Brilliant Light (Oisin Murphy) lines up for Saeed bin Suroor, while recent Newmarket handicap scorer Global Storm (William Buick) goes for Charlie Appleby.

Earlier, Magny Cours was headed in the closing stages when finishing second in the 10-furlong G3 La Coupe at Longchamp, France, on Sunday.

The son of Medaglia d’Oro, who was third behind Mystic Guide in this year’s G1 Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline, raced in a close fourth initially before striding on into a clear advantage under Mickael Barzalona after the first quarter-mile.

Magny Cours rallied after kicking for home in the straight but could not fend off the challenge of Iresine, who produced a withering late run to head the Godolphin six-year-old well inside the final half-furlong for a three-quarter length success.