Cosmic performance eagerly awaited in red-hot Newmarket feature

Harry Charlton is keen to see Cosmic Year in a “proper race”, as the exciting colt bids to tee-up future big-race assignments in Newmarket’s Trustatrader King Charles II Stakes.

The son of Kingman has dazzled in his two racecourse appearances and put himself in the picture for Saturday’s 2000 Guineas when excelling at Kempton recently.

However, with owners Juddmonte blessed with a talented team of three-year-olds at a mile – including 2000 Guineas favourite Field Of Gold – Cosmic Year will remain at seven furlongs for the time being as he makes the step into Listed company.

“Once the 2000 Guineas wasn’t going to happen we were keen to give him a little bit more experience ahead of his next assignment and this was the most suitable race that kind of fitted well in the calendar,” explained Charlton.

“It was the day before the Guineas so if he wasn’t going to run in that it was still the same training schedule and if it is to be used as a stepping stone, it’s the right time frame towards some of those nice options coming up as well – the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace are both possibles depending on what happens on Friday.

“I’m looking forward to getting him back out on track and I’m sure he will stay a mile at some point, but it will be nice to see him in a proper race and see what he can do.”

He added: “I think it’s the manner in which he does stuff and the way he moves and can quicken which makes him one of those exciting horses and you just hope when they go faster you can almost be more impressive so we’re excited to get him going.”

Charlie Appleby’s Symbol Of Honour rates as a chief threat on his return to seven furlongs having won twice over slightly shorter in Meydan over the winter.

Meanwhile, James Owen has decided to stay at seven furlongs with Pellitory rather than head to ParisLongchamp for the French 2000 Guineas after his course and distance win during the Craven meeting.

Owen said: “He steps up in grade and it looks a hot race. He went up 17lb for his last run and it would be nice if he could go up another 17lb after this one.

“He’s going to need to improve again but he’s entitled to, it was a slowly run race last time and he was out the back and then hit the front probably half a furlong too soon. This is much tougher of course, but I think there is big improvement to come from him, he’s an exciting horse.

“I think he’s a proper, proper animal and a beast of a horse and he might step up to a mile eventually, but for now I think he’s a Jersey Stakes horse.

“We half-thought he could be a French 2000 Guineas horse, but running on home soil at Newmarket kind of swung it in this race’s favour and we’ll know were we are with him after this.”

Hugo Palmer’s The Waco Kid was well held in the Craven Stakes but accounted for Hamad Al Jehani’s reopposing Diego Ventura when they met in the Tattersalls Stakes over this track and trip last September, while John and Thady Gosden’s Chancellor failed to land a blow in the Greenham but is given another chance to make his mark.

Harry Eustace’s La Botte and Andrew Balding’s Marvelman have both won well on the all-weather this spring and now hope to translate their efforts to turf, while similar applies to Archie Watson’s Port Light who had Detain and Luther ahead when a close-up third in Chelmsford’s Cardinal Stakes.

“Archie has been very pleased with him and we feel he has progressed with every start,” said Cosmo Charlton, racing manager for owners Hambleton Racing

“The feeling after the Cardinal Stakes was he will improve again dropping back to seven furlongs and obviously he is going to have to prove himself on turf on quick ground, but we do think the drop in trip will bring improvement.”

Alice Haynes’ Big Cyril completes the field.