Saber Strike gets another chance to prove his worth

Connections of Saber Strike are “quietly confident” the application of blinkers will help him realise his potential in Friday’s HKJC World Pool Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood.

The son of Night Of Thunder looked a top-class prospect after winning his first two career starts and was considered one of the bankers of the week at Royal Ascot, but could finish only sixth as a red-hot favourite for the Jersey Stakes.

He was given a swift shot at redemption in the Criterion Stakes at York just a week later, but again looked to be struggling in the middle part of the race before finishing with gusto to place third behind Qirat and Never So Brave.

The William Haggas-trained goes back into three-year-old only company and steps up to a mile for the first time on the Sussex Downs – and while St James’s Palace Stakes third Talk Of New York sets a lofty standard, the Saber Strike team are hopeful their youngster can show his true colours.

Billy Jackson-Stops, racing manager for owners Victorious Forever, said: “William is happy with him and says he’s sharpened up a bit for having the blinkers on and we think from what we’ve seen that this should be trip, so we’re quietly confident.

“He ran a very nice race at York behind two Group One winners. He possibly just runs a little bit flat in the middle of his races, like he did at Ascot, where he then finished (strongly). Hopefully the blinkers will just keep up the revs.

“We think going back into his own age group, hopefully this will be a really good opportunity for him. Talk Of New York is obviously the one to beat, but we’re hopefully going to see the best of Saber Strike now. If we can just get him to engage in the middle of that race then he should run a nice one.”

Talk Of New York has won three of his five starts for Charlie Appleby and there was nothing wrong with his performance in being best of the rest at the Royal meeting behind Bow Echo and Gstaad, who again finished first and second in a pulsating Sussex Stakes on Wednesday.

Appleby, who also runs previous course winner Catullus, told www.godolphin.com: “On the back of the Sussex Stakes, you would have to go into this with a lot of confidence in Talk Of New York. We were a length and three-quarters behind Bow Echo and Gstaad at Royal Ascot and we were having our first experience at that level. Talk Of New York has done well since and will hopefully get the job done.

“Catullus has won at Goodwood, so we know he enjoys the track. He is probably not far off this sort of level and should run his own respectable race.”

Karl Burke saddles recent Sir Henry Cecil Stakes winner Shayem, while John and Thady Gosden’s Yazin is fitted with a tongue-tie for what his first competitive outing since finishing last of eight behind Talk Of New York in Sandown’s Heron Stakes in May.

“Sandown didn’t suit him last time, but I think Goodwood will suit him better,” said Thady Gosden.

“He’s a promising colt with plenty of ability and I hope we can see that from him. We gave him some time after Sandown and have him prepared for this.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Andab and the Andrew Balding-trained Five Ways complete the field.