Yazaman has class to see off rivals this time

ROYAL ASCOT form is well represented in the Group Two July Stakes and YAZAMAN (Newmarket, 3.00) is fancied to take today’s step up in class in his stride. Although beaten at the royal meeting, the selection shaped with great credit to chase home Tactical in the Windsor Castle Stakes where everything that could have gone wrong probably did. Drawn away from the eventual winner in stall five, Yazaman was a little sluggish getting away and stopped in his run as he attempted to make it up, events which left him well out of his ground after a furlong. It was to his great credit that the selection found a change of gear at halfway to pick his way through some tiring rivals and, although Tactical had poached a race-winning lead, Yazaman charged into second to suggest he was more than a little unfortunate. In both starts to date, the son of Kodiac has suggested a step up to six furlongs could induce improvement and he has the opportunity to test that theory today. The selection’s old adversary Tactical looks sure to appreciate a sixth furlong too and is respected along with Qaader, who beat all bar the 150-1 chance Nando Parrado at Ascot in the Coventry Stakes. Earlier on the card, LORD CAMPARI (1.50) makes some appeal in the Listed event over a mile as he created a terrific impression when scoring at Newbury on his seasonal reappearance, while

DAWN RISING (2.25) should find an enhanced test of stamina to his liking in the Bahrain Trophy.

LAST season’s champion juvenile Pinatubo bids to redeem his slipping reputation in Sunday’s Qatar Prix Jean Prat at Deauville in France. Placed in the 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes, the Godolphin-owned colt will face a maximum of 13 rivals, with Jersey Stakes winner Molatham leading the opposition in the Group One race.