Friday 26 July 2019 15:53, UK
David Simcock is thinking of giving Spanish Mission his prep run for the William Hill St Leger in Thursday's Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.
The colt leapt into the picture for the final Classic of the season at Doncaster on September 14 when landing an emphatic success by four lengths from Nayef Road in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket.
Simcock would like to give Spanish Mission another outing before then and the Gordon Stakes is the next suitable trial for the Leger.
"He's trained well and we're just wondering whether we need to run again before September," the Newmarket handler told Sky Sports Racing.
"The likelihood is he'll have one. He'll have to carry a penalty and it might be Goodwood next week.
"We're very happy with him and he's in good order.
"It was a good effort at Newmarket. It was a good step up and I liked he was so strong the last furlong and so strong through the line. It's nice going forward."
Of the 14 possibles for the Gordon, only three - Dal Horrisgle, Jalmoud and Sameem - do not hold an entry in the St Leger.
Martyn Meade's Technician would warm up for Doncaster at Goodwood following his Listed triumph at Longchamp.
Aidan O'Brien's current party of four for the Gordon is headed by South Pacific, winner of the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot. Constantinople, Eminence and Il Paradiso are his others.
Jessica Harrington has a fascinating contender in Leo De Fury, who has won both his starts at the Curragh and Navan by five lengths.
Cap Francais, Floating Artist, Nayef Road and Sir Ron Priestley complete the Gordon hopefuls.
Threat, runner-up in the Coventry Stakes, is among 17 entries for the Qatar Richmond Stakes.
The Footstepsinthesand colt found only the O'Brien-trained Arizona too strong at Royal Ascot after making a winning debut at Newmarket in May.
O'Brien has pitched in Harpocrates, King Neptune and Royal Dornoch while Archie Watson's Guildsman and Clive Cox's Golden Horde, who were third and fifth in Coventry, have the Richmond entry.
Charlie Hills has put in Fleeting Prince and Royal Commando, with Mark Johnston giving the option to three - Iffraaz, Misty Grey and Monoksi.
