Soapy Set To Step Up

Soapy Danger looks set for a crack at Group One company following his brave display in the Princess Of Wales's wbx.com Stakes at Newmarket's July Festival.

Winner of the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot last month, the brave three-year-old is now being considered as a possible candidate for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and the Ladbrokes St Leger after beating 4-7 market leader Mountain High.

Always to the fore under Kevin Darley, the 5-1 shot bowled along in front and responded to his rider's urgings when challenged by Enforcer (9-2) and Mountain High inside the final three furlongs.

Despite looking as though he would be swamped, Soapy Danger repelled all challenges and had three-quarters of a length to spare over the market leader at the line.

'He is very tough and it was fantastic to see him win at Royal Ascot,' said Johnston.

'We weren't confident he could do the same over a mile and a half but when they come to him he always finds more. This was experimental and it showed us we can come back in trip with him.

'He has got such a great attitude and I think that helps him get home.

'He is so relaxed and was decent as a two-year-old and has never been out of the first two in his life.

'He has improved from the all-weather to take a Group Two. He is on the up and he will be better next year, but there is still more to come this year.

'He is in the King George and we will have to go home and think about that. This race was an ideal Leger trial so we have several options and it is a nice position to be in.'

William Hill cut Soapy Danger into 25-1 from 40s for the King George with Stan James also offering the same price while Ladbrokes quote him as the 5-1 second favourite for the St Leger.

On beaten favourite Mountain High, Sir Michael Stoute said: 'He beat Enforcer again and has run his race but he was beaten by an improving three-year-old.'

William Muir, trainer of Enforcer, added: 'He's run well. He was three-quarters of a length behind a horse we were beaten a length and a half behind at Ascot.

'I thought at one point he was going to pick up and beat them but he has just flattened off. 'If he is right we will still go to the King George ? I certainly wouldn't be frightened of that.

'If we decide to wait there is a Group One in Cologne on September 24 or a Group Three in Deauville so there are plenty of options.'

? PA Sport