LION CAN BE KING
Gosden star looks ready to pounce
ROARING LION is fancied to defy market rival Poet’s Word — and old foe Saxon Warrior — to lift the Group 1 Juddmonte International (3.35) at York today.
Trainer John Gosden’s (below) Derby third gave jockey Oisin Murphy the first top-level triumph of his going-places career when holding Saxon Warrior by a neck in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last month.
That took the score to 2-2 in his private battle with Aidan O’Brien’s 2,000 Guineas hero, and the word from Newmarket is that slow learner Roaring Lion, the wide-margin winner of the Dante Stakes over course and distance in May, has taken another leap forward. Poet’s Word has had a busy summer, beating Cracksman at Royal Ascot and stablemate Crystal Ocean in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the royal racecourse last time, and will be no pushover. Godolphin is enjoying a golden summer and Charlie Appleby’s CROSS COUNTER, who thrashed Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee at the Qatar Goodwood Festival 18 days ago, can negotiate the step up to Group 2 company for the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (3.00). The Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (2.25) PHOENIX OF is a good opportunity for SPAIN, while course form points to the TOMMY TAYLOR chance of in the opening Sky Bet And Symphony Group Handicap (1.55).