Forgotten horse Mohaather giving all right signs ahead of QEII Stakes return

One-time Classic hope Mohaather returns to action on Saturday with trainer Marcus Tregoning hopeful he can re-establish himself in the big time.

The three-year-old looked a live 2,000 Guineas contender when taking his record to three wins from four starts with victory in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury in April, but a bone bruise to his off-fore meant he missed the Newmarket engagement.

Tregoning, who has always held the son of Showcasing in high regard, immediately pledged to avoid the fast ground of the summer and bring him back for an autumn campaign after plenty of rest, and Mohaather is firmly on course for Ascot’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over the straight mile where he will line up as one of the outsiders.

Underfoot conditions are sure to prove extremely testing, but Tregoning expects the Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned colt to cope with them.

“He’s in very good form and should handle the ground okay,” the trainer said. “The stiff mile is the question mark as his last two wins have been over seven furlongs.

Marcus Tregoning: 'He’s done plenty of work and goes there in great order”Credit: Edward Whitaker

“He settles well, though, and I think he’ll get it. He’s done plenty of work and goes there in great order.”

The going on the straight course is described officially as heavy with the prospect of further rain on Friday morning, leaving punters to latch on to horses who have proven winning form on very testing ground.

The William Haggas-trained mare One Master (Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes) and The Revenant (QEII Stakes) have been two of the best-backed horses this week.

Paul Binfield, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “With the ground at Ascot likely to prove more suited to Noah’s Ark, the heavy-ground horses have proved hugely popular since the weekend.

“The Revenant has won on heavy in France, while One Master scored on very soft ground at Longchamp this month. The Revenant is now 5-2 favourite, having been available at 8-1 on Monday, while One Master has been punted down to 5-1 from 8-1.”

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