Walking in a Wissahickon wonderland: Gosden ace steps out in Quebec Stakes

2.15 Lingfield
Betway Quebec Stakes | Listed | 1m2f | ATR

Cambridgeshire winner Wissahickon embarks on a midwinter campaign on Saturday which could lead to a crack at the Easter Classic back at Lingfield in April.

John Gosden is chasing a second win in the seven-runner contest having bagged it with Dick Doughtywylie in 2013, and Wissahickon looked ripe for this Listed level and beyond when easily winning the Newmarket cavalry charge last time.

The three-year-old, who came from off the pace to score tidily from Mordin, had previously won three times on the all-weather, including over course and distance in May.

Following a win and a defeat on turf in midsummer, Wissahickon then accounted for the useful Blue Mist in a 1m2f handicap at Chelmsford as a prelude to his Cambridgeshire triumph.

Despite some pre-race antics which led to him being mounted in the chute on the Rowley Mile, Wissahickon came from nearly last to first when scoring by three and a quarter lengths, a success that led to his rating rising 10lbs to 117.

After a short break since that easy victory, the George Strawbridge-owned colt has been working away nicely on the Al Bahathri Polytrack in Newmarket and looks sure to take plenty of stopping.

Wissahickon is 5-1 second favourite for the Easter Classic and could take part in the Group 3 Winter Derby beforehand.

Gosden said: "We've had this race in mind for Wissahickon for some time and he's been pleasing in his recent work on the Al Bahathri Polytrack. We know he likes the track and the trip, and we could look at races like the Winter Derby and Easter Classic after this."

Of the opposition, Big Country ran well to be second to Master Of The World in the Listed Churchill Stakes over course and distance last month and looks sure to be in the mix, even though he has to shoulder a 3lb penalty for a win at this level at Pontefract in the summer.

Mick Appleby's hope has three wins from just five starts on the all-weather and part-owner and TV pundit Chris Dixon said: "We were really pleased with his run last time and he's been aimed at this since.

"He's in really good form but the penalty makes things tougher, especially as he has a bit to find with Wissahickon on ratings. We're hoping for a good run and then we could look at races like the Winter Derby."

Big Country (centre) won the Listed Pomfret Stakes at Pontefract in JulyCredit: Alan Wright

Alan King fields talented dual-purpose performer Scarlet Dragon, who will be mixing it up again this winter and is using this as a warm-up for a return to hurdling in the new year.

The four-year-old finished runner-up to another rival here, Mango Tango, in a conditions event over course and distance last time, when Goring, who also features, was fourth.

Owner and syndicate manager Henry Ponsonby said: "Scarlet Dragon is having his third start of the all-weather championships. We hope to get him qualified for Good Friday, and he'll be going hurdling again after this weekend.

"Martin Harley suggested we try him without a hood, so he won't be wearing one here. He never wears one at home and worked very well earlier in the week."

He added: "We're all going to need turbo-charge to beat Wissahickon at the weights but Scarlet Dragon is very well and we're just hoping for a bit of pace."

Goring, trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, has gained four victories over a mile at Lingfield and was third in the all-weather mile championships on Good Friday last season.

His trainer said: "Goring was a bit unlucky on his last start and loves Lingfield - it really suits his style of running. He doesn't seem to mind whether it's a mile or a mile and a quarter.

"Wissahickon is the one to beat but Goring goes into the race with a good each-way chance."

The line-up is completed by recent Kempton scorer Villette, trained by Dean Ivory, and Part Exchange, trained by George Scott.

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