SPANISH MISSION, an impressive winner of the Bahrain Trophy, can advertise his St Leger claims by following up in the Qatar Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday.
David Simcock's colt appeared to take a big step forward that day on Newmarket's July course and, after heading the re-opposing Nayef Road just inside the final furlong, then drew clear in impressive fashion to win by four lengths.
On his previous start, Spanish Mission proved that he can handle the Goodwood course well when run down late on by Private Secretary who then finished fourth to Japan in the King Edward V11 Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Those two pieces of form could well be good enough to beat the Aidan O'Brien-trained Constantinople who was beaten a neck by stable-companion South Pacific (well beaten in the Goodwood Cup here on Tuesday) in the King George V Handicap, also at the Royal meeting.
Third-placed Eminence (also trained by O'Brien) has since been beaten narrowly when odds-on at Fairyhouse (and was third to Sir Ron Priestley yesterday), and Constantinople didn't look the easiest of rides earlier in the season.
On the same official rating as Spanish Mission and Constantinople is Jalmoud but he was quite firmly put in his place by Japan in the Grand Prix de Paris last time having previously been no match for the smart Headman at Saint-Cloud. Earlier, he finished last in the Queens Vase.
In the opening Unibet Handicap, SINJAARI, who finished only eighth in that King George V Handicap, is fancied to appreciate the drop back from a mile and a half.
While a son of Camelot, William Haggas's colt is quite speedily bred on his dam's side and it was pretty clear that he didn't last home at Ascot having previously shown a good deal of potential when winning at Windsor before going under by a short-head to the aforementioned Headman in the London Gold Cup at Newbury (Forest Of Dean fourth, The Trader fifth, Korcho eighth).
Sinjaari finished nicely clear of the latter trio that day, ran an exceptionally game race and can confirm the placings despite meeting them on worse terms now.
The Qatar Nassau Stakes features a clash between the dual Guineas winner Hermosa and the French Oaks (Prix de Diane) heroine Channel.
The form of the latter's win at Chantilly has yet to be tested but she showed plenty of resolution in the closing stages and should not be under-estimated.
Hermosa was ridden very positively at both Newmarket and The Curragh and it will be surprising if she is not suited by this step up to a mile and a quarter, though she seemed slightly jaded when beaten by Watch Me in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot subsequently.
Both Maqsad (a non-stayer) and Medaayih (hampered twice) failed to give their running in the Oaks and also deserve plenty of respect, but it may be worth taking a chance on RAWDAA handling this first attempt at Group One level.
Narrowly beaten by Lah Ti Dar over this trip in the Middleton Stakes at York (stable companion Sun Maiden over four lengths back in third) in May, she was then beaten a neck by Move Swiftly over a mile in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at the Royal meeting (Nyaleti seventh).
Under pressure well over a furlong out that day, Rawdaa stayed on gamely all the way to the line leaving the distinct impression that extra yardage would have suited better. She's improving well for Sir Michael Stoute having gone up 23lb in the official ratings since winning a fillies handicap at Newmarket last October.
Preview posted at 1630BST on 31/07/2019
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