Saturday's action is relatively quiet in terms of recent activity and the main action takes place in the heat of Normandy's coast with Deauville staging the G2 Prix Hocquart Longines. Godolphin's progressive Volkan Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) looks to build on his latest win in the 12-furlong G3 Prix du Lys at ParisLongchamp on July 14, having taken the Listed Fairway S. at Newmarket on June 27. Charlie Appleby has a creditable record at this August-long festival and said, “Volkan Star brought a very progressive profile into the Prix du Lys and duly obliged. This is another step up in class, but he has done well since his last run. We are feeling our way through the grades and hope he can run another good race.” He meets Claudio Marzocco's Port Guillaume (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who lost his unbeaten record but nothing in defeat when fifth in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on July 5. Undone by the steady early pace in that Classic, the Jean-Claude Rouget trainee has another two furlongs to run here which is certain to suit on that evidence.
Sixth and more of a disappointment in the Jockey Club, the Wertheimers' May 14 G3 Prix la Force winner Pao Alto (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) needs to bounce back in a fascinating contest which also features the July 12 G2 Derby Italiano hero Tuscan Gaze (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Newmarket's card features the G3 Betway Sweet Solera S., in which another Godolphin representative is in evidence in Danilova (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who scored over the course and seven-furlong distance last Saturday. Charlie Appleby said of her, “We are turning out Danilova quite quickly, but she has come out of her last run in good order and has two good runs over this course and distance under her belt. She will need to improve again with the step up to this grade, but the signs have all been good and we felt that this was a nice opportunity for her.”
One of Danilova's most notable rivals is Robert Tyrrell's impressive July 18 six-furlong Newbury maiden scorer Fly Miss Helen (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who bids to provide Richard Hannon with a third success in the last five renewals. “She's done very well since her first run. Sean [Levey] has been riding her in a lot of her work and he's been impressed,” her trainer said. “She's a big filly who was slow to come to hand, but she showed plenty of ability from day one. She's not flashy in her work as such, but she does it well and we're looking forward to running her. This race has been a good stepping-stone for a lot of good fillies over the years.”
At Haydock, the G3 BetVictor Rose of Lancaster S. sees Isa Salman Al Khalifa's Global Giant (GB) (Shamardal) look to build on his success in the July 19 Listed Steventon S. at Newbury. John Gosden's son Thady said, “He's in good form and Haydock should suit him, I think. Hopefully they don't get too much rain.” Also in action is Cheveley Park Stud's G1 Falmouth S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is back after a wind operation in the Listed BetVictor British EBF Dick Hern S.
Cork's G3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks S. is a race to savour, with last year's winner Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) returning for the first time in 2020 having also garnered the G2 Blandford S. at The Curragh in September. The Aga Khan's 4-year-old has a stiff task on this reintroduction, having to give 10 pounds to the July 18 G1 Irish Oaks second and third Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Tarnawa represents the Dermot Weld stable and Passion the Ballydoyle operation, which between them have accounted for all of the last eight editions of this 12-furlong contest.
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