Top
‘Glorious’ task again for Desert Encounter
28 July 2020
DAVID Simcock is hoping Glorious Goodwood can trigger another series of fine races for the evergreen Desert Encounter.
Twelve months ago Abdulla Al Mansoori’s horse landed the Glorious Stakes after a promising third in the Princess of Wales’s at Newmarket.
That proved to be the start of a stunning sequence of four victories on the bounce, culminating with Desert Encounter landing a Grade 1 in Woodbine.
It’s asking a lot for history to repeat itself exactly, but the eight-year-old gelding once again finished third in the latest renewal of Princess of Wales’s Stakes.
And on Friday he heads on to Goodwood for the mile and a half Group 3 Glorious Stakes.
David said: “You know he comes together at this time of year and starts to find his form. That was a step in the right direction at Newmarket last time.
“Last year he took that next step at Goodwood and held his form well.”
DESERT ENCOUNTER
On Wednesday David has high hopes for Carlos Felix, who contests the mile and a half handicap for three-year-olds.
He’ll bid to follow up a very impressive four and a half length victory over the same trip at Ascot almost three weeks ago.
David said: “Carlos Felix got a 10lb hike for Ascot but he’s thoroughly progressive and he’ll need to be in a race like that. It’s always ultra competitive, always a good race.”
The two and a half mile staying handicap on the same card will see Smart Champion line up. He finished mid-division in the Northumberland Plate last time but before that was only beaten a length and half into fourth in the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot.
David added: “Smart Champion is an extreme stayer and horses that can compete at these meetings are fantastic for their owners. You know he’s going run another good race. And if he got a bit of luck you never know.”
SMART CHAMPION