Varian ace Defoe expected to hit the target on first Group 2 assignment

2.55 Newmarket
Dunaden Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2) | 1m4f | 4yo+ | ITV

Odds-on favourite Defoe wasn't even entered for this contest until the five-day stage, when connections stumped up £6,000 to add him to the field.

Trainer Roger Varian must have drawn a lot of confidence from his rising star's impressive return to action in the Group 3 John Porter Stakes at Newbury last month, when he came from off the pace to win going away from Danehill Kodiac.

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's four-year-old looks ready-made for this higher grade in a race which is often not the strongest Group 2 in the calendar.

Last season Defoe carried all before him when racking up a four-timer through handicaps and black-type company, but he found the step up to Classic level a bridge too far in the St Leger, beating only one home.

Given a long break after that, Defoe looked to have reaped the benefit when hosing up at Newbury and has thrived since.

Varian said: “Defoe has shown all the right signs following his reappearance win at Newbury and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid very kindly agreed to supplement him for this contest.

"He sets the form standard and is capable of further improvement this year – I’m very much looking forward to running him.”

Of his four opponents, the race sponsors are represented by Count Octave, who finished well ahead of Defoe when sixth in the St Leger and made a winning reappearance in a 1m4f novice contest at Wolverhampton last month.

Count Octave will be doing all his best work at the finish as his best effort last year was his second to Stradivarius in the Group 3 Queen's Vase over a mile and six furlongs at Royal Ascot.

Trainer Andrew Balding said: "Count Octave had some decent form last year, including at Royal Ascot, and we were pleased with his comeback run where he got the job done as odds-on favourite at Wolverhampton.

"He's come on from that and this looks the right race for him."

Of the others, the jury is still out on whether Master The World will get this sort of trip, but trainer David Elsworth is adamant that this year's Winter Derby winner will stay.

Master The World (grey) has had a successful all-weather campaign and now goes up in tripCredit: Mark Cranham

Since his Lingfield triumph, Master The World was runner up in the Easter Classic and then finished fifth in the Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes at the Craven meeting.

Elsworth said: "All the experts reckon he won't get a mile and a half but I believe he wants at least a mile and a quarter. We'll see but he's in great form."

Khalidi will no doubt be the pick of the paddock as he's not long back from Dubai, where things did not quite pan out for him.

The four-year-old was slowly away when last of ten in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic and should find this easier back at a track where he won the Listed Feilden Stakes last year.

Khalidi (winning) proved he handled this track when winning the Feilden Stakes last seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Trainer Clive Cox said: "Khalidi has come back well from Dubai, where he enjoyed the sun on his back. He has winning form at the track and this looks the right race."

Red Verdon makes up the quintet and is back to middle distances after finishing fourth over two miles on all-weather championships day.

Trainer Ed Dunlop said: "We know he's effective at the trip but it looks a tough race. Hopefully he can finish in the first three."

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