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Energizer set for Volt test

Image: Encke and Noble Mission are set for round two

Simon Crisford believes that both Energizer and Encke hold leading claims at York's Ebor meeting next week.

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Experience not expected to be lost on promising colts

Connections of Energizer expect their new purchase to be suited by the step up to a mile and a half in the Neptune Investment Management Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on Wednesday week. Godolphin nominated the Group Two, for which he will have to be supplemented, as a likely first port of call for the colt after they bought him following his victory in the Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot. "He has settled in very well. He is a horse very much for next year, but I think he will run a big race in the Voltigeur," said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford. "He was among the elite three-year-olds in Germany and his performance at Ascot was very good. I think the step up to a mile and a half will suit him."

Round Two

Godolphin and trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni are also set to be represented by Encke, who was just beaten a nose by Noble Mission in the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Crisford said: "I think inexperience cost him at Goodwood and I would hope he will reverse the form at York, especially as the winning margin was so small. "He failed to handle the undulations on the Sussex Downs and I would expect that a track like York will suit him much better." Encke will probably get his chance for revenge as the Sir Henry Cecil-trained Noble Mission, a full-brother to Frankel, is also on target for York. Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "Noble Mission is a real improver. He travelled strongly down the hill at Goodwood and took Tom (Queally) to the front a little earlier than he would have ideally liked. "He then got in a ding-dong battle with Encke and it could have gone either way. It will be interesting at York."

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