Yucatan, near side© Photo Healy Racing
Yucatan began the week not looking the obvious number one contender for Aidan O'Brien in the Racing Post Trophy, but now finds himself a short-priced favourite for the final Group One of the British season at Doncaster.
Capri was expected to spearhead O'Brien's bid for an eighth victory in the two-year-old showpiece he has won with the likes of subsequent Classic winners High Chaparral, Brian Boru and Camelot, as well as St Nicholas Abbey, but he was not declared.
The regally-bred Yucatan finished just behind Capri in the Beresford Stakes, but his trainer stated midweek he had improved considerably for that outing.
By Galileo out of the brilliant Six Perfections, there is no doubting the market leader is bred for the job and he is owned, along with the Coolmore triumvirate of John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, by the Niarchos family's Flaxman Stables, who also had Six Perfections.
Alan Cooper, racing manager for the Niarchos operation, said: "Aidan O'Brien indicated that he would be one of several possible choices for the race and he has decided this is the next plan for him.
"I think he has grown up in each run to date.
"It is a step up in grade for him on Saturday so let's see what happens."
O'Brien also runs The Anvil, still a maiden after four runs but placed twice in Group company, and Finn McCool, while Ger Lyons sends Brutal from his Glenburnie base, although he is realistic as to his chances.
"Brutal is Brutal and he'll run well in whatever race I run him in, he's that type of horse, but he's not that level," said Lyons.
"He's going to the sales, so they (owners Qatar Racing) said we'll run him and if he runs well and gets a big sale we'll take it, and if he runs very well we'll keep him."
