The Parthenon (left) winning at Gowran park© Photo Healy Racing
Charlie Appleby expects a step up in trip to bring about a further improvement from Aomori City in the HKJC World Pool Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.
A debut winner at Nottingham in mid-June, the Oasis Dream colt was last seen finishing third behind the Aidan O’Brien-trained Whistlejacket in the July Stakes at Newmarket.
With O’Brien’s The Parthenon a significant non-runner, Aomori City is likely to go off favourite on his first start over seven furlongs on the Sussex Downs as he looks to following in the hoofprints of star juvenile Pinatubo, who won this race for Appleby in 2019.
“Aomori City produced a decent performance in the July Stakes, when it looked as though stepping up to seven would suit,” Appleby said on the Godolphin website.
“He brings a decent level of ability into the race and I think the track will be a positive as well. We are hoping he can find more improvement over this distance.”
The Middleham Park Racing team also believe a rise in distance will enable their contender An Outlaw’s Grace to take his game to another level.
An impressive winner on his Salisbury introduction, the Richard Hannon-trained colt went on to finish fourth behind fellow British raider Arabie in the Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly two weeks ago.
“We’ve seen him out having a little breeze at Richard’s and he seems in great shape. He’s never been in better form,” said Middleham Park’s director of racing, Tim Palin.
“Six furlongs at Chantilly might just have found him out second time out and Richard and Sean (Levy) think the step up to seven should eke out some further improvement.
“It’s a wide-open race and we’re one of the protagonists. You’d like to think we’ll run a big race and hopefully we’ll be in the mix.
“There’s lots of horses in there of a similar ilk. Hopefully the ground will continue to dry out and that should help us a wee bit.”
