Tom Clover’s charge was beaten a short head by Vauban at Group Two level at York last summer and has since enjoyed a winter spell in sunnier climes, contesting the Red Sea Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia before performing with credit in the Dubai Gold Cup.
Having finished third behind subsequent Gold Cup hero Trawlerman on his return to Britain in Sandown’s Henry II Stakes in late May, the seven-year-old returned to the Esher track for the Listed Coral Marathon earlier this month and was again denied by a short head, this time by veteran stayer Coltrane.
Clover said: “He ran super, I think maybe just as an older horse he might have found the ground a touch tight perhaps on that summer, quick ground.
“He was only beaten in a photo and I loved the way he hit the line strong, so hopefully he can win another stakes race soon.
“He could well go back to York, obviously he was a close second in it (Lonsdale Cup) last year. We’ll see how he is, but it could well be the plan at the moment.”
On Saturday Clover saddled big-race runners at Newmarket and York, with high-class sprinter Rogue Lightning far from disgraced in finishing ninth in the July Cup – beaten just over four lengths.
“He ran well, it feels like he loves being in trouble and it’s hard to find a clear passage through, but he wasn’t beaten far,” the trainer added.
“Hopefully we can work back from the Dukhan Sprint in Qatar in February, which he won this year, and hopefully he’s up to winning another stakes race soon.”
Tabletalk looked a major threat after travelling strongly in the Group Three Silver Cup at York, but his effort petered out late on and he had to make do with minor honours in third behind Al Qareem.
Clover said: “He ran well, I thought he might go and nearly win and I don’t know whether Ascot took it’s toll perhaps – maybe it came a bit soon.
“I’d like to think he’s up to winning a Group Three and that looked a good opportunity, but we might have ran him back a bit soon.
“We’ll see how he is. We’ll give him a quiet week and build him up from there.”
