Expert insight and trainer quotes for a must-watch Superior Mile

Betfair Superior Mile Stakes (Group 3) | 1m | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

Immediately noticeable in this year's Superior Mile is the lack of established Group performers. Stormy Antarctic counts, but he is surrounded by improvers, many of whom appeal as having it in them to go past him. His best hope is the testing ground in which he has tended to excel.

Three of the top four in this race on adjusted RPRs, excepting Stormy Antarctic, have got their rating from handicaps. Top is Qaysar, who achieved his figure over this course and distance on soft ground. That sort of form is only really relevant to itself, which is why it becomes pertinent here in a way that it was not on his previous two runs.

The one who needs to be discussed at length is Royal Ascot victor Khaloosy. The overall impression of his handicap run, a thumping four-and-a-half-length success over Finest Sound, who was himself four lengths clear of the 20 other runners in the Britannia Stakes, might not be topped in that realm in all of 2020.

Had Khaloosy come straight here, he would have been a warm order. Instead, he ran in this grade at Goodwood when he was beaten at 4-7. Whether he was undone by the ground (good to firm) or the track (notoriously tricky) is immaterial, as it was surely one of them going by how he ran under pressure, and neither pertains to this race.

Back at a more regulation course, on ground described officially as it was at Royal Ascot, means that Goodwood run can be disregarded.

Khaloosy deserves to be shorter in the market than My Oberon. William Haggas's three-year-old beat his aforementioned rival at Goodwood but, in finishing second there, still achieved much less than Khaloosy did at Ascot.

Although his form came a world away at Thirsk on a Wednesday evening, Top Rank achieved not far off Khaloosy's level when winning there in July. It was enough to send him off favourite for a handicap at York's Ebor meeting – a race that is the nap of the year to work out strongly. He was third there having travelled as well as anything.

If there is a concern with Top Rank, it is that putting the emphasis on stamina at a mile may not play to his strengths.

Whether it will be a thorough test depends on more than just the ground and there looks to be a real lack of pace. That is all the more notable given a few of these horses have a history of racing freely, or simply have more demonstrable form in big-field handicaps. It is on this point, rather than form, that Stormy Antarctic might be able to drive home an advantage having been deployed to good effect off the front in the past. He also has the enterprising Andrea Atzeni on his back.

Keith Melrose, betting editor

What they say

George Baker, trainer of Graignes
He's up to a mile for the first time for us, but he's run over it previously and I'm not worried about the step back up in trip. He ran well in the Lennox Stakes, although the race didn't really pan out for him and he finished not far behind Space Blues and pretty much on the bridle – a typical Goodwood thing when gaps didn't appear. He then went to Deauville the other day and the race turned into a mad sprint, so he was never getting there. He's in good order and the rain is welcome – more would be very welcome as he thrives on proper soft ground. Hopefully he's a big autumn ahead on rain-softened ground.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Qaysar
Because of his rating he's quite hard to place and, despite a disappointing effort in a handicap last time, he ran well in a conditions event before that and should be suited to a race of this nature at a track he absolutely loves.

Top Rank's trainer James Tate: 'I think the easy ground will be no problem'Credit: Edward Whitaker

James Tate, trainer of Top Rank
I was satisfied enough with his third at York last time. We were hoping to win, but it was a solid effort and he had a bit of a wide trip, while it was the first proper race of his life – it's the first time he's ever blown after a race. We're hoping he can step forward from that and have a good run. I think the easy ground will be no problem.

Roger Varian, trainer of Khaloosy
He's a horse we like and he won the Britannia nicely. It didn't really happen for him at Glorious Goodwood, but he's trained nicely into this race and he'll go on the easy ground. These Group 3s are hard to win and I'm respectful of the opposition, but I expect him to bounce back and produce a performance. Goodwood was messy and didn't really happen for him. I don't think any horse enjoys Haydock heavy, but would I take it over firm at Goodwood? Yes, I probably would.

Harry Bentley, rider of Kinross
I don't think he's been aimed here to get soft ground, but I think it should be okay for him. He's been put in some very tough races with the 2,000 Guineas and Prix Jean Prat against some top opposition, so a drop back in grade should help.

William Haggas, trainer of My Oberon
He's never run on testing ground – we'll see how he handles it. I'm pretty wary of Khaloosy.

Reporting by James Burn

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