'You dream of things like this' - Quinault out to complete sensational six-timer for Stuart Williams at July festival

Stuart Williams at Diomed StablesNewmarket 17.5.22 Pic: Edward Whitaker

Stuart Williams: trainer of six-timer seeking QuinaultCredit: Edward Whitaker

Stuart Williams is eagerly anticipating the prospect of Quinault landing back-to-back £100,000 races and completing a sensational six-timer in the bet365 Handicap (3.00) at Newmarket on Thursday.

Quinault beat Washington Heights by a head at York last month and the pair are 11-2 joint-favourites with the sponsor for the first handicap of Newmarket’s July meeting.

That success on the Knavesmire made it 5-5 in handicaps for Quinault, who began his winning run off a mark 59 at Chelmsford in April and is now rated 90.

A 310,000gns purchase by Godolphin at the Craven breeze-ups last year, Quinault was last of seven on his only start for Charlie Appleby before being gelded and sold to current owners Tje Racing for 25,000gns.

“You dream of things like this,” said Williams. “We bought him to win a couple of all-weather handicaps through the winter. He’s just progressed and progressed. You can’t ever say that you can see that progression in them when you start off.”

Quinault was beaten by a combined 18 and a half lengths on his first two starts for Williams in February, both on the all-weather over five furlongs.

A step up to six furlongs for his handicap debut helped Quinault get off the mark at Chelmsford. He then followed up with wins at Brighton and twice on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile before landing his most lucrative prize when beating 20 rivals at York last time.

“He ran two fairly ordinary races for us and it was only when we gave him a little bit of a break and put him into handicaps that he started improving,” said Williams.

“I’ve been very pleased with him since York. All his preparations have gone well and we’re looking forward to running him. I put him in the Bunbury Cup but this looked a better option for him at this stage to stay against the three-year-olds.”

Quinault is now rated 31lb higher than his opening mark and is 1lb worse off at the weights with Washington Heights, who finished second to Commonwealth Cup winner and July Cup favourite Shaquille prior to chasing home the Williams-trained sprinter at Newmarket and York.

Kevin Ryan has booked Ryan Moore to ride Washington Heights for the first time and the pair will break next to Quinault in stall 12.

“We’ve been lucky enough to come out on top," Williams said of the rivalry. “I’m hopeful that the track at Newmarket will suit him a little bit better than at York. We only just got there in the last stride last time. Hopefully the stiffer finish might suit our fella a bit better.”

bet365 Handicap, 3.00 Newmarket Thursday

bet365: 11-2 Quinault, Washington Heights, 7 Mill Stream, 8 Eminency, Frankness, 10 Tajalla, 12 Be Frank, 14 Animate, Tough Enough, 16 Executive Decision, 20 bar

Adayar faces three as he steps back up in trip

Adayar, third in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, will take on three rivals in the Princess of Wales's Stakes (3.35) on Thursday.

The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old was beaten four and half lengths by Mostahdaf over ten furlongs at Royal Ascot but will step back up to a mile and a half in the £125,000 contest. He won the Derby and King George over that trip in 2021.

Adayar: easy winner on his return in the Gordon Richards Stakes

Adayar: Derby winner steps back up to 1m4f for the first time this season on ThursdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Adayar has not run over the trip since finishing fourth in the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and will be partnered by William Buick in the Newmarket Group 2. James Doyle will ride his Godolphin-owned stablemate Global Storm, who was second to Hurricane Lane on the Rowley Mile when last seen.

Israr, second on both of his starts this season, attempts to go one better for John and Thady Gosden. The Charlie Fellowes-trained Grand Alliance completes the quartet.

The latter will be ridden by Moore, who reunites with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Nostrum for the first time since winning a Group 3 last September in the Listed Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes (4.45).

Nostrum was third to the 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean in the Dewhurst when last seen and faces five rivals on his seasonal reappearance including the unbeaten pair Imperial Emperor, who is also ridden by Buick, and Embesto.

Godolphin's jockey also has a good chance in the opening Bahrain Trophy Stakes (1.50) on Appleby's Castle Way, who steps up three furlongs in trip from his Listed success on the Rowley Mile in May. By contrast, Saint George drops down in trip after his excellent second to Gregory in the Queen's Vase over a furlong further.

Another runner-up at the royal meeting bidding to go one better is Malc, one of nine runners declared for the Group 2 Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes (2.25).

Middleham Park Racing's son of Calyx was second in the Norfolk after winning at Carlisle on his debut and steps up to six furlongs for the first time. Purosangue, Lake Forest and Chief Mankato, who had to be withdrawn at the start of the Coventry when well backed late on, are intriguing opponents who have not raced since winning their debuts.