After slowish start Lambourn ace has engaged top gear
| Published date | 02 August 2023 |
| Publication title | Weekender |
time. We have already notched up 13 juvenile wins, including the Group 2 July Stakes with Jasour. Although he is clearly a star in the making, we have a whole host of smart youngsters capable of going on to better things."
In 2022 Cox registered 61 winners with more than £1 million in prize-money - for the fifth time - but the way things are going now there is every reason to believe he can set a new personal best of more than £1.5m and, with 36 wins on the board, his best tally of 79 could be under threat.
"I've never been one to rush my horses, they tend to tell me
when they're ready to run and thankfully that patient approach in the early months appears to have been the right one. Jasour had won before Royal Ascot, but he was not the finished article by the time the royal meeting came around. We gave him those extra few days and it made the world of difference as he put the July Stakes to bed in the manner of a smart colt," he says.
He is among a select team being considered for Glorious Goodwood which Cox goes into detail about in this interview. Among those being considered for Friday's King George Qatar Stakes are Get Ahead and Kerdos.
Older horses Diligent Harry 5 b g Due Diligence - Harryana To It was great to see him back to near his best when second in the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury. He had enjoyed a good campaign
before that, having won twice at Newcastle, the latter being the All-Weather Sprint Championships. The form of that race is pretty hot as the runner-up, Witch Hunter, went on to win at Royal Ascot, while further down the field Vadream has gone on to win the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket. He has yet to win on grass, but his head second to Commanche Falls last time, one of the most consistent horses in training, shows that there are big races to be won with him. I think the Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket is a possible logical step after that fine effort. At some point we will give him a break before preparing him for the next all-weather season.
Fernando Rah 5 b g Lethal Force - Lacing He's had a few problems down the years with starting stalls. He must have conditions in his favour and the ground as near good as is possible or a synthetic surface. His first run of the year, at Wolverhampton in February, was smart when second to Tone The Barone. He has had only two runs on the turf since and I had hoped it would have dried out at Ascot by last weekend, but we opted not to risk him.
Get Ahead 4 ch f Showcasing - Suelita A wonderfully consistent filly who won over 6f at Haydock in May and was unfortunate not to follow up in the Group 2 Prix du Gros-Chene at Chantilly when going down by a short head after a strong finish. I thought she would be competitive in the Group 3 Coral Charge at Sandown last time out, but the rain that fell in the time leading up to the meeting made all the difference. She could head to Goodwood on
Friday for the Group 2 King George Stakes and has form at the course because she won a handicap at last year's meeting over the minimum trip off a mark of 91. Officially she is an 11lb better filly now and if the ground is right then she will go close. She's in great shape.
Kingdom Come 4 b g Kingman - Monami He had a productive start to the year completing
a hat-trick in 7f contests, all at Kempton, the last two in handicaps. His only poor subsequent run was at Royal Ascot in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, but he ran a much more encouraging race when third at Haydock last time out. He looked as if a return to a mile would be helpful. I'm full of confidence that he will stay the trip with his pedigree.
Lethal Nymph 4 b g...
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