Dark Trooper searching for Wokingham compensation in Stewards’ Cup

Alban de Mieulle’s speedster was narrowly adrift of Unequal Love at the Royal meeting.

Royal Ascot runner-up Dark Trooper will seek some valuable compensation when he heads to Goodwood seeking to give owners Wathnan Racing a first victory in the Coral Stewards’ Cup.

Alban de Mieulle’s speedster – who is well known from his time in Britain with Ed Walker – narrowly failed to build on his win in Saint-Cloud’s Prix Wizz Kid when half a length adrift of William Haggas’ Unequal Love in the Wokingham Stakes.

Having been sent off the 4-1 favourite on that occasion, the four-year-old is set to be of warm order once again on the Sussex Downs, with his connections optimistic of a bold showing.

“He ran a tremendous race at Ascot and we were delighted with him,” said Richard Brown, European racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.

“I think if he had been closer to where the pace was, the result might have been different in the Wokingham.

“This was the target immediately after and Alban seems very happy with him, so we’re looking forward to it.

“It’s a big race at a prestigious meeting and it’s exciting to have one with a chance in it.”

Dark Trooper – who has won seven times in 19 starts – will exit stall 23 as he bids to give his Qatari-based owners another victory this week on the Downs.

Brown added: “I think we’re happy with 23, we wanted to be high and it looks like we’re going to be in between some of the pace, so we’re happy.

“It’s a big race at a prestigious meeting and it’s exciting to have one with a chance in it.”

Archie Watson’s Albasheer was eighth in this when the race was run in heavy ground last year and looks for rapid-fire back-to-back victories having struck at Ascot last week.

He competes here under a 6lb penalty in the hands of Hollie Doyle, while Mick Appleby’s Billyjo is another making a quick return to the track having finished second over seven furlongs at Goodwood earlier in the week.

Albasheer winning at Ascot last Saturday
Albasheer winning at Ascot last Saturday (Steven Paston/PA)

Andrew Balding’s Purosangue has been plying his trade in Group company this term having ended his two-year-old season with a Listed win in the Rockingham at York.

He was last seen finishing second to Ed Walker’s in-form Makarova in the Coral Charge and now makes his first start in handicap company.

A touch of quality is also provided by Seven Questions – who is one of two for George Scott and Victorious Racing along with Rocket Rodney.

The three-year-old won the Palace House Stakes earlier in the season and is another to try his hand in handicaps after campaigning in some of the very best sprint events so far this term.

“He finds himself in slightly calmer waters, but on account of his win in the Palace House earlier in the year he has plenty of weight to carry for a three-year-old,” said Scott.

“I think six furlongs is really going to suit him and if it is a strong pace, there will be plenty of runners to aim at.

“It is a matter of will the real Seven Questions please stand up, if you know what I mean. He’s a little in and out and has a very strong character so if everything goes to plan and the prelims go well then he is perfectly capable of showing up well in a race like this.”

The consistent Apollo One dipped his toe into deeper waters at Sandown and is back amongst the handicap ranks, while Epsom Dash winner Dream Composer has a course and distance win to his name despite his best form coming down at five furlongs – he will have the assistance of Tom Marquand.

Dream Composer winning the Dash at Epsom
Dream Composer winning the Dash at Epsom (Steven Paston for the Jockey Club/PA)

“He’s had a good season so far and ran well last time out at Ascot in a competitive sprint there,” said trainer James Evans.

“He’s come out of that well and we’ve got a chance of a run in it and he’s probably earned it. He does run well at Goodwood and he’s a course and distance winner – there aren’t that many course and distance winners in it.

“We’re realistic about our chances and there is some lovely unexposed types at the top of the handicap there, but hopefully he can go and run well.”

Karl Burke’s Lethal Levi and Richard Fahey’s pair of Ramazan and Strike Red give Yorkshire a strong hand, with David O’Meara represented by the evergreen 2020 Stewards’ Cup winner Summerghand.

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