Calyx ready to blossom again at Ascot after nearly a year on the sidelines

Merriebelle Stable Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes (Registered As The Pavilion Stakes) | Group 3 | 6f, 3yo | Sky

After an absence of 316 days Calyx, one of last season's most exciting two-year-olds, finally returns to action at the start of what could be a bountiful campaign.

The son of Kingman headed the market for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas after storming up the stand-side rail to win the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last June, beating subsequent Group 1 winner Advertise into second, with Sergei Prokofiev, who also raced on the far side, third.

That made it two wins from two following a debut victory at Newmarket only ten days prior, but a setback curtailed the rest of his season and a Guineas bid was finally ruled out last week by trainer John Gosden.

Instead, the relatively simpler assignment of a Group 3 over the 6f trip that he last raced over has been targeted, as a springboard to races over a mile later in the season.

Frankie Dettori and Calyx after victory in the Coventry StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "He was impressive in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he beat two good horses.

"He suffered a setback but worked at Newmarket recently and we were happy with him. We decided the 2,000 Guineas would come too soon, so we're starting him off over six furlongs at Ascot with a view to him taking part in the good mile races later on. He's in good form.

"He's in the Commonwealth Cup and St James's Palace Stakes. The St James's Palace is the intention."

Despite Calyx's clear promise, this race has been won by classy types Blue Point and Limato in the past four seasons and promises to be a significant test.

The chief threat could be Royal Ascot winner Signora Cabello, who landed the Queen Mary and the Prix Robert Papin before going down narrowly to Pretty Pollyanna in the Group 1 Prix Morny. The filly will be ridden by Oisin Murphy for the first time since that Ascot win.

Signora Cabello (white) lands the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal AscotCredit: Caroline Norris

Trainer John Quinn said: "She's never been a really blow-away work horse. But from early on she has always pleased. She's fit and well and going back to a track where she's run well in the past.

"We're taking on a very warm favourite. Calyx looked very good when winning the Coventry and will be a tough nut to crack. But there are some decent horses in there and you can't disregard any of them. No way is it a one-sided race."

Best of the rest

Things did not go to plan for the Richard Hannon-trained Well Done Fox in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, but he ran with credit as did Pocket Dynamo, trained by Robert Cowell, who was beaten only a nose by Shang Shang Shang in the Norfolk Stakes last season.

In fifth that day was the Clive Cox-trained Konchek, whose trainer said: "He was a tidy campaigner as a two-year-old and ran well in the July Stakes.

"He's wintered well, will appreciate the ground and I'm looking forward to him this summer. It's a very decent contest."

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