Maximized looking to make most of G2 Richmond Stakes opportunity

Maximized hopes for an improved performance in G2 company when he tackles the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood in UK on Thursday.

The Charlie Appleby-trained colt met with a first career defeat in the G2 July Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month, when he faded to fifth after appearing to hold a leading chance approaching the final furlong.

Maximized readily beat recent Listed Pat Eddery Stakes winner Time To Turn on his debut at Haydock Park and comfortably accounted for Havana Hurricane, who went on to win the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes, in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom Downs.

Charlie Appleby said: “Maximized had proved very consistent up until his disappointing run in the July Stakes. We have no real excuse for that effort, although the ground may have been quick enough. He came out of the race fine and we are applying cheek-pieces this time. Hopefully, he can rekindle his early season form, which will make him competitive.”

Morris Dancer touched off in G2 Vintage Stakes

Unexposed two-year-old Morris Dancer took a significant step forward as he went down by a short-head to Zavateri in the G2 Vintage Stakes, despite showing signs of inexperience in the seven-furlong contest at Goodwood, UK, on Tuesday, 29 July.

The Palace Pier colt, making his Pattern debut for John & Thady Gosden on the back of a Haydock Park maiden success, raced in a clear last of the 10 runners for the majority of the race.

Asked to quicken by William Buick two furlongs out, Morris Dancer started to make good headway soon after but had to switch out after nearly running into the back of Do Or Do Not.

The Godolphin runner, who continued to look ill at ease on the camber, flew home inside the final furlong and strongly pressed Zavateri in the final strides, with the G2 July Stakes winner finding more in the shadow of the post.

John Gosden said: “We are thrilled with Morris Dancer, who has run a great race. He won at Haydock and then just had a little niggle and cough. So we backed off and he came here off the minimum work. William said don’t be frightened to step up to a mile with him and we will do that somewhere.’’

William Buick added: “There wasn’t much between Morris Dancer and Zavateri in the end. He ran super. It seemed like the winner found a bit more when I got to him but Morris Dancer has stepped up on his previous run, so we are very happy.’’

Recently, Tornado Alert produced a superb display as he decisively beat older opposition in the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich.

The Too Darn Hot colt had already put up three strong efforts in the UK this season, including finishing fourth behind Ruling Court in the G1 2,000 Guineas, but was encountering soft ground for the first time in his career.

Oisin Murphy positioned Tornado Alert prominently throughout the 10-furlong contest and raced in third initially before moving up to a two-length second behind Atoso heading into the first turn.

Petit Marin took second from the Saeed bin Suroor-trained runner seven furlongs from home, with many horses appearing poised to challenge as the field bunched turning in.

Atoso and Petit Marin kept to the inside rail but started to fade at the top of the straight as Tornado Alert led the rest of the runners towards the centre of the course.

Having taken up the lead over two furlongs from home, Tornado Alert found plenty in front, seeing off Persica and then Map Of Stars before powering away to hit the line two and a half lengths clear.

Saeed Bin Suroor said: “Tornado Alert won well and I am really pleased for him. He has run well every time this season, and his second at Royal Ascot last time was a good piece of form. I was a little worried about the ground when the rain came, but he had no problem with conditions today.

“We will take him home to Newmarket and see how he comes out of this over the next few days before deciding where to go next. A mile and a quarter is his best trip, so we will look for more races over this distance.”