Hermosa conqueror Royal Meeting set for Gothic Stakes return at Caulfield

Unbeaten Criterium International winner Royal Meeting is set for his first start in almost a year in the Listed Gothic Stakes on Caulfield Cup day on Saturday.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt won on debut at Yarmouth last September before striking at the top level at Chantilly, where he defeated subsequent dual 1,000 Guineas heroine Hermosa.

Godolphin landed the Gothic Stakes with the James Cummings-trained Ranier last year and Pat Cosgrave is hoping for another success for Sheikh Mohammed's operation on the card on which he enjoyed a high-profile victory aboard Caulfield Cup hero Best Solution in 2018.

Cosgrave is staying in Victoria for a three-week stint and looking forward to riding Royal Meeting, who has not been seen since suffering a setback in the spring.

Cosgrave said: "He's an interesting horse and very much unexposed. He was a very good two-year-old and I'm looking forward to riding him.

"He's high class and it's a nice race for him to start out in after a year off."

Punching the air: Pat Cosgrave won the Caulfield Cup on Best Solution last yearCredit: Michael Dodge

Stablemate Dream Castle finished ninth in Saturday's Ladbrokes Stakes at Caulfield, won by the formerly Aidan O'Brien-trained Cape Of Good Hope, and Cosgrave hopes this year's Jebel Hatta scorer can bounce back in the similarly-sponsored Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 26.

Cosgrave, who is also set to ride Red Galileo in the Geelong Cup on October 23, said: "He was a bit disappointing but we had a bad trip around three wide and we couldn't get much cover, although he wasn't beaten that far.

"Hopefully he can bounce back in the Cox Plate with a better draw and something to follow – he's a much better horse with something to aim at."

Dream Castle: failed to figure in the Ladbrokes Stakes on SaturdayCredit: Dubai Racing Club / Erika Rasmussen

He added: "I'm here for the next three weeks and hopefully I can pick up some spare rides and a bit of luck along the way.

"I find it quite enjoyable out here. The prize-money is good and this time of year the racing is strong all the way through."

Godolphin will be doubly represented in Saturday's A$14m (£7.52m/€8.46m) The Everest at Randwick after Cummings on Sunday confirmed Saturday's Schillaci Stakes winner Trekking will take his chance, joining stablemate and Memsie Stakes third Alizee.

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