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| Staff Writer |
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Ancient Wisdom will have the chance to make a strong St Leger statement as he steps up to a mile and five furlongs for the Gr.3 Bahrain Trophy on the opening day of Newmarket’s July Festival.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Dubawi colt emerged as a potential middle-distance star with a superb finish to his juvenile season, securing impressive victories in the Gr.3 Emirates Autumn Stakes and Gr. 1 Futurity Trophy.
Both of those wins came on ground with significant cut, but Ancient Wisdom’s two starts this year have been on quicker surfaces. After finishing a distant second to Economics in York’s Gr.2 Dante Stakes, he struggled at Epsom Downs, finishing eighth in the Gr.1 Derby.
Charlie Appleby said: “They’ve had rain at Newmarket, although it looks as though the ground will be good to soft or probably nearer genuine good ground. We feel that the step up in trip is going to be the most important thing for Ancient Wisdom and he goes there in good order.”
Aomori City, a promising juvenile, looks to build on his debut victory as he steps up to Gr.2 level in the July Stakes. The Oasis Dream colt remains at six furlongs following a comfortable half-length win at Nottingham in mid-June.
Charlie Appleby said: “It’s a small but punchy race. Aomori City won first time out and has definitely come forward for that run. We were keen to come for this race afterwards and I can’t give any negatives on what he has done to date, both on the track and at home.”
Bold Style heads to the July Course for the Listed Henry Cecil Stakes following two seven-furlong performances on the Rowley Mile this season. The Shamardal 3YO finished a close third in a conditions race at the Craven meeting and was narrowly beaten by Boiling Point in the Listed King Charles II Stakes at the Guineas Festival.
His trainer Charlie Appleby said: “Bold Style has been gelded since his last run. We feel that the step up to a mile is going to suit and hopefully he can be competitive.”