Creative Force seeks honours in Darley July Cup

Creative Force looks to continue his remarkable ascent as he makes his G1 debut in one of Europe’s premier sprints, the Darley July Cup, on the third and final day of Newmarket’s July Festival on Saturday.

The son of Dubawi has met with defeat once in six career appearances for Charlie Appleby and returns to six furlongs after beating Naval Crown by a length and a quarter in the seven-furlong G3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 19.

Creative Force (William Buick) started his season with three victories over six furlongs, following up a pair of handicap wins on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course with a decisive success in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury in mid-May.

Appleby said: “Dropping back to six furlongs isn’t a concern with Creative Force, who has come out of his Royal Ascot victory in great shape. He has shown his versatility this season both in terms of distance and ground.  He doesn’t win his races by far but keeps winning, and you can’t ask for more. He has progressed through the handicap system up to G3 company and we are looking forward to seeing how he gets on at this level.”

Godolphin has won the other feature race on Saturday’s card at Newmarket – the G2 Superlative Stakes – five times, with Dubawi, Quorto and Master Of The Seas featuring on the roll of honour.

Both Appleby-trained juveniles this year head into the seven-furlong contest on the back of wins over the same distance, with Native Trail (William Buick) easily scoring by four lengths on his introduction at Sandown Park.

Private Signal (James Doyle) went down by a neck on debut at Doncaster before making all to post a length success in a Leicester novice race.

Appleby said: “Native Trail won in stylish fashion on debut and has come forward mentally for that run. Our aim afterwards was always to go for this race and he has pleased us at home.

“Private Signal hit the lids at Leicester and William didn’t want to disappoint him by taking him back, so he went forward with him. I thought that looked a decent race and he deserves to take the step up in grade.

“Like most of the field, we are pitching both colts into G2 company to see where we are likely to go for the rest of the season.”

Al Suhail tackles G2 Summer Mile

G1 Jebel Hatta Sponsored By Emirates Airline third Al Suhail gets his UK campaign underway in the G2 Summer Mile at Ascot on Saturday.

The four-year-old was beaten just over half a length in the nine-furlong turf feature on Super Saturday at Meydan, but trailed home last over the same course and distance in the G1 Dubai Turf on Dubai World Cup Night.

Both of Al Suhail’s 2020 starts came over a mile at Newmarket, including a comprehensive six-length success in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at the July Festival.

The Appleby-trained son of Dubawi, who is ridden by Pat Dobbs, also showed good form at Newmarket as a juvenile, going down by half a length to Military March in the G3 Dubai Autumn Stakes.

Appleby said: “Al Suhail has shown us a lot of potential and we have been pleased with his homework going into this race. He was gelded after his run in the Dubai Turf and conditions look there to suit at Ascot, coming back to a mile with potentially some give in the ground.”

Meanwhile, Micheline stretches out to a mile and three furlongs for the first time as she goes in search of a second Graded-Stakes win in the G3 Robert Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park in US on Saturday.

The Bernardini filly, who is trained by Michael Stidham, ran a superb race over half a furlong shorter in the Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs in September, when she produced a storming late run to beat Harvey’s Lil Goil by a neck.