SKY’S THE LIMIT
DESERT SKYLINE looks tailor made for the Ladies’ Day feature.
The four-year-old has work to do if he is to give wily fox David Elsworth a first Gold Cup triumph.
Last year, he ran sixth to Stradivarius in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase, and finished three lengths second to the same rival in the Yorkshire Cup, also a Group 2, last time out.
Silvestre De Sousa’s mount then came home ninth in the Group 2 Long Distance Cup over two miles here last October, with Order Of St George ( first), Torcedor (second), Stradivarius (third), Mount Moriah (fourth) and Sheikhzayedroad (seventh) ahead.
And when Torcedor landed the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes, again over two miles, here at the start of last month, my selection crossed the line eight lengths back in third.
However, the key to Desert Skyline’s chance is the two-and-a-half-mile distance.
When he won the Group 2 Doncaster Cup last September, he devoured every last inch of the two-mile, two-furlongs to score by a length and a half, and my selection will relish this test.
With a win in 2016 and a short-head second 12 months ago, Order Of St George is obviously the one to beat, with Stradivarius a massive player if he lasts home over the marathon trip.
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