Damysus ready to lock horns in the Lockinge

This time last year Damysus was preparing for the Betfred Derby. But 12 months on the horse named after the fastest of all the giants is ready to prove speed is his most vital asset in the Boyle Sports Lockinge Stakes.

Having shown a dazzling turn of foot in a winning return at Newmarket, John and Thady Gosden’s striking son of Frankel drops back to a mile, not only filling the vacancy created by the setback to stablemate Field Of Gold, but also with hopes of providing the Clarehaven team with a third straight victory in the Newbury feature.

“If you asked me a year ago if I thought he would be favourite for a Lockinge, I would have said probably not,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.

“We were looking at that mile and a quarter and mile and a half route. He got upset in the stalls in the Derby which is very unlike him as he does have a phenomenal temperament this colt.

“James (Doyle) felt he has certainly got quicker and he was impressive on his return at Newmarket. We are back to a mile and significantly up in grade so there are plenty of question marks, but he’s in good form and we’re looking forward to it.

“He certainly looked a better horse on his comeback at Newmarket. He’s not a particularly tall horse, but he’s done well and he’s a strong colt with a huge stride length. He’s definitely put plenty of muscle on over the winter.

“We’ll find out if the mile is the place for him and it’s a Lockinge so it’s going to be a big ask. But we’re hoping he can do us proud and he’s a horse who always gives his best.”

Many of the Lockinge contenders locked horns in the bet365 Mile at Sandown late last month, but with the winner Opera Ballo heading elsewhere and runner-up Field Of Gold also absent, it is left to Karl Burke’s previously unbeaten Zeus Olympios, who was third, to bring the best form from that race to the table.

Burke said: “I’m looking forward to seeing him run, he’s in great form and he’s definitely taken a step forward from Sandown.

“We were obviously a bit disappointed to lose his unbeaten record, but he was always going to go there and improve and I think it was important he got that run under his belt and he’s taken a big step forward on his home work.

“It’s a good race, but I think he’s a very good horse.”

With Opera Ballo slated to run in France next, it is left to last year’s fourth and Breeders’ Cup hero Notable Speech to represent Charlie Appleby, with his trainer hoping he can leave his reappearance fourth in Keeneland behind him.

Appleby told the Godolphin website: “Notable Speech came out of the Maker’s Mark Mile well, when things obviously didn’t go to plan. I am hoping it can be the same situation as Modern Games, who was also beaten in the same Keeneland race before winning the Lockinge. We would like the rain to stay away, as the quicker the better for him.”

Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter was third to Notable Speech in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar, but having made a winning return at Leopardstown, the master of Ballydoyle is confident being trained for this distance will bring out the best in the son of Sea The Stars this term.

O’Brien said: “I think the problem (last season) was we messed around with his trip too much before we got him back to a mile and we probably had plenty of damage done for the year by that stage.

“This year we’re going a mile all the way, so it will be interesting to see.”

Francis-Henri Graffard’s French raider Sahlan has form that ties in with both The Lion In Winter and Notable Speech and is out to continue his handler’s fine record in the top global events.

Meanwhile, More Thunder will tackle a mile for the first time since starring for William Haggas having progressed rapidly through the ranks last season, winning four times and ending his year with a respectable fourth in the Prix de la Foret.

Haggas said: “It was always the plan to start over a mile here, he stayed a mile and a quarter for Sir Michael Stoute as a three-year-old and he did well but his warming style – because he takes a bit of warming up – might actually suit a mile and a nice pace.

“He was good at Newbury when winning the Hungerford and he ran a very good race as well in France in the Foret when drawn appallingly in 16 of 16. He still stayed on well up the straight there really nicely and he’s a really useful horse.”

Andrew Balding’s late father Ian won the Kingsclere team’s local race with Silly Season in 1966 and Selkirk in 1992 and now attempts to do the same with Jonquil, who was a Greenham winner at Newbury last term and showcased his class at Ascot earlier this month in the Paradise Stakes.

Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte, said: “Jonquil showed last year that he has Group One form and he was beaten a head in the French Guineas.

“We made a few bad calls with him after that, dropping him back to six furlongs and then going to America a couple of times when we kept getting drawn in the car park. He then he got stuck a bit wide in Abu Dhabi.

“He just hasn’t enjoyed much luck in his last four or five races (before Ascot) and it’s just taken the horse a while to get back on track after us messing him about.

“In fairness to Andrew, before he went to Ascot he felt he was back to where he wanted him and he showed he retains plenty of ability, so we have to be hopeful that he can run a good race on Saturday.”

An all-star cast is completed by Charles Hills Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Cicero’s Gift, last year’s Lockinge runner-up Dancing Gemini for Roger Teal and Ballydoyle second string Mississippi River.