Four key questions as Appleby seeks to work his magic again

3.00 Doncaster
Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes (Gr 2) | 7f | 2yo colts & geldings | ITV/ATR

Can Appleby work his magic again?

Charlie Appleby tends to target this race with the cream of his juvenile crop and he will be looking to the unbeaten Mythical Magic to continue to progress as he steps up in grade.

After making a promising start on debut at Ascot, Mythical Magic gained an impressive all-the-way victory in a Listed race over this trip on soft ground at Deauville with a performance that prompted talk of an end-of-season tilt at the Dewhurst Stakes.

The Iffraaj colt showed a professional attitude in France as he found more for pressure to beat the better-fancied Godolphin favourite Cascadian by three-quarters of a length.

Appleby has won the Champagne Stakes twice in the last four years, with Emotionless (2015) and Outstrip (2013) – both of whom went on to the Dewhurst the following month – and he believes Mythical Magic can repeat those successes.

"I think he's the one they have to beat," the trainer said. "He goes to Doncaster in great order, having won both his starts. He's done well since he ran in France and his victories have come with ease in the ground, so the going will not be a problem."

Will Red Mist turn the tables on Hey Gaman?

Hey Gaman and Red Mist renew rivalry after fighting out an exciting finish to the Listed race at Newbury formerly known as the Washington Singer.

Hey Gaman put his experience to good use to hold off the challenge of Red Mist, who only lost out by a short-head on his second start after winning a Sandown maiden.

There is a school of thought Red Mist will come on for that experience and be able to reverse the form, but Hey Gaman's trainer James Tate is not so sure.

"I understand why people fancy Red Mist but I think you can mark up my horse's performance at Newbury as there was a strong headwind and he was the only winner on the day to go from the front," said the trainer, who last weekend gained a first Group success when Invincible Army won the Sirenia Stakes.

"He's improved all season and we're very happy with him. I'd like to see a shower before racing as he's more effective on ground on the easier side."

Red Mist's trainer Simon Crisford is hoping the rain stays away for the Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum-owned son of Frankel.

"The soft ground at Newbury blunted his speed and the more it dries out the better his chances," he said. "We're very pleased with his preparation for this race – it has been the plan since Newbury – and while he'll need to improve in a race of this level we're hopeful he can."

Is Dream a Classic contender in the making?

Dream Today marked himself down as a potential Classic type when landing Britain's most valuable maiden, the £70,000 Convivial Maiden Stakes, on debut and connections are keen to test the waters at Group level.

A brother to recent Group 1 scorer Al Wukair, the Mark Johnston-trained colt follows the same path as last year's winner Rivet, who won this race after opening his account in the same York contest.

While Dream Today will need to take another step forward, the form of his debut victory received a timely boost on Thursday when third-placed Laugh A Minute won the valuable sales race at the track.

"We've thought a lot of him since day one," said Johnston's son Charlie. "He had a setback and was off until the summer and we duly ringed York’s Convivial Maiden in the calendar and everything worked out well.

"It's a big step up in class but he has some pretty lofty entries both at the backend of this season and next year too, so we need to find out how realistic they are."

Are the O'Brien pair in danger of being ignored?

Seahenge was a rare first-time-out juvenile winner for Aidan O'Brien this season when scoring at Naas in July but disappointed when fifth in the Vintage Stakes.

Ryan Moore opts to ride stablemate Mendelssohn, a $3 million yearling who got off the mark at the second attempt in a mile maiden at the Curragh last month.

Both horses could be backed at double-figure prices on Friday but O'Brien was expecting improvement from the pair.

He said: "Mendelssohn was very green when winning his maiden at the Curragh. He should have learned from the race and will learn more this time. He's in good form and the better the ground, the more he'll like it.

"Seahenge, too, was very green when winning on his debut and again at Goodwood last time. We think he's progressed and that he'll progress again."

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