Frontiersman bids to stop Defoe's scoring spree in Geoffrey Freer

2.25 Newbury
Betfred Geoffrey Freer Stakes | 1m5½f | 3yo+ | ITV4/RUK

Can Frontiersman register his first Group success?

Frontiersman takes another step down in class as he searches for a breakthrough Group success following excellent placed efforts in the Group 1 Coronation Cup and Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes.

There is little doubt the lightly raced four-year-old still retains considerable promise and this rates a decent opportunity back at a track where he comfortably landed his maiden last summer.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Frontiersman, said: “He's in great nick and we couldn’t be happier with him. We missed the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood because of the very testing ground; hopefully it won’t be too soft at Newbury.

“I don’t foresee the step up in distance being an inconvenience. He wasn’t stopping in the Princess of Wales’s and didn’t lose too much in defeat when going down to an in-form Hawkbill.”

Can St Leger hope Defoe buck age trend?

Three-year-olds don’t have a particularly good record in this race in recent years – only three of that age group have won since 1996 – but plenty will fancy the fast-improving Defoe to buck the trend for Roger Varian.

Unbeaten in three starts this season at Newbury, York and Hamilton, he gives the impression he will improve further for the step up in trip – his last win was over 11 furlongs – as his entry for next month’s William Hill St Leger suggests.

Varian said: “Defoe is a progressive horse and his Glasgow Stakes victory has been nicely boosted since.

Defoe: will be bidding to strike a blow for the record of three-year-olds in the Geoffrey FreerCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

“I think he'll improve for the step up in trip and he'll be well suited by this galloping track. He'll be absolutely fine on good ground, but he wouldn’t want it any quicker than that so I hope conditions don’t dry out too much.”

Is To Eternity good enough to make splash in Group 3?

You have to go back 22 years to 1995 to find John Gosden’s last Geoffrey Freer Stakes winner, Presenting.

Progressive four-year-old filly To Eternity appears to have a tough task based on official figures – she has 14lb to find with Frontiersman – but there was plenty to like about her six-length success in a Newmarket Listed race a fortnight ago and it might prove a costly move to readily dismiss her chances.

Gosden said: “She’s a very genuine filly and won well under a great ride from James Doyle on her recent reappearance at Newmarket.

“That was a Listed race and she also finished second in the Galtres last year, so she is ready to step up.”

What they say

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Crimean Tatar and Wall Of Fire
It’s frustrating to have to run them against each other. We’ve all got Frontiersman to beat, but I don’t think he’s unbeatable. Both of mine will get the trip really well and should be okay on the ground. We’re putting blinkers on Crimean Tatar for the first time in the hope they will help him travel better. He's worked in them at home.

Wall Of Fire: will be partnered by Josephine Gordon

Pat Shanahan, trainer of The Tartan Spartan
I’m very happy with him. He came out of his Listed win at Down Royal last month well and I'm expecting a big run.

Mick Channon, trainer of Harlequeen
Goodwood will have blown the cobwebs away. She had a setback earlier in the year, which was most frustrating, but she’s in good heart now and working well.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Horseplay
She was a bit disappointing in France last time. This distance will suit her well and she’s in good form.

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