'He couldn't be in better form' - Highland Avenue seeks four-timer in Heron

6.55 Sandown
Casumo Best Odds Guaranteed Heron Stakes (Listed) | 1m | 3yo | RTV

Highland Avenue goes on trial for a possible tilt at Group 1 targets such as the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in the seven-runner feature, a double that was completed by Without Parole in 2018.

A win in the mile contest for the strapping grey would be a notable first for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby’s colt is on a four-timer after his impressive victory in the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket last month.

Highland Avenue, who carries a 3lb penalty for that success, looked well up for this when stretching his legs on the Limekilns canter on Wednesday morning but will be encountering soft ground for the first time in his biggest test to date.

Newmarket's Clarehaven Stables has won this three times, most recently with King Of Comedy when last staged in 2019, and fields two runners including the unbeaten Mostahdaf.

The son of Frankel is a half-brother to last year’s multiple Group 1 winner Nazeef and will be stepping onto turf for the first time in public after all-weather wins at Newcastle and Kempton in the spring.

Nando Parrado: Royal Ascot winner tries a mile for the first timeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Connections are worried about the soft ground for him but less so for stablemate Mithras, who won a 7f handicap on his return at Newbury last month.

Also moving up from the handicap ranks is Ralph Beckett’s Bullace who should not be discounted given his progressive profile, most recently when scoring at Newmarket's Craven meeting, although that was on good to firm ground.

Also in the mix is last year’s Group 2 Coventry Stakes winner Nando Parrado, trained by Clive Cox. He is trying a mile for the first time after his comeback fourth in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury last month.

What they say

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Highland Avenue
I know he has a penalty to carry and we respect the opposition but he has to be competitive in this if he is to go up in class later on. Soft ground would be a question mark for him on pedigree but he shows some knee action and couldn’t be in better form at home.

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Bullace
It’s a big leap from a 0-85 at the Craven meeting but that form has worked out well with Crossford and Wobwobwob winning. I think the track will suit him and it's the right race to run him in. He ran well on his debut there and there's plenty of encouragement in his pedigree regarding soft ground.

Hollie Doyle, rider of Imperial Sands
I think the track will suit him although soft ground is a bit of an unknown. He didn’t disgrace himself in the deep end in the Craven Stakes last time and he’s been going well at home since.

Frankie Dettori: rides Mithras for John and Thady GosdenCredit: Edward Whitaker

John Gosden, joint-trainer of Mithras and Mostahdaf
Unfortunately a very dry cold spring when the ground was firm has given way to soft after a deluge over the past few weeks and it’s difficult to know how they will handle it. Mithras won nicely in a handicap at Newbury last time and should be okay on it. This has been the plan for Mostahdaf for a long time so we’re sticking to it. He’s an athletic type who is a half-brother to Nazeef, who handled heavy, but she was by Invincible Spirt whose progeny like a bit of juice.

Clive Cox, trainer of Nando Parrado
It’s a competitive race packed full of potential stars. This is a good opportunity for us to hopefully take a step in the right direction but more importantly it will mould our thoughts for the rest of the year. He hit the line well at Newbury which gives us encouragement over a mile. I’m sure he has trained on from two to three and I very much hope with a run under his belt to see some improvement.

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