Mogul, Darain to Clash in Intriguing Great Voltigeur

Given his stellar pedigree and monster 3.4 million guineas (US$4,674,201) price tag, plenty have been quick to label Mogul (GB) as a disappointment, but the brother of top-class pair Japan (GB) and Secret Gesture (GB) took his first step towards redeeming his reputation when winning the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes (G3) at Glorious Goodwood last month—and that was a big career-best judged on Racing Post Ratings. There was no hanging around with Subjectivist (GB) ensuring a proper gallop and they got racing a long way out that day. The test of stamina appeared to suit Mogul, who was strong at the line. Subjectivist is in the line-up again for the Aug. 19 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) and so is Highland Chief (IRE). They were fighting it out for a long way up the straight at Goodwood before both were swamped by Mogul close home. That suggests a similar race could unfold from a tactical perspective and they often get racing early on the Round course at York too. That will again place the emphasis on stamina and Mogul might find this galloping track more to his liking than the tight turns at Goodwood. He appears to be improving and is confidently fancied to confirm the places with that pair. A test of stamina should also suit Berkshire Rocco (FR), who missed Goodwood but has a progressive profile having achieved three successive career-high RPRs in the 100s. The Andrew Balding-trained colt built on his second to English King in the Lingfield Betsafe Derby Trial on his reappearance when filling the same position behind subsequent Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) hero Santiago (IRE) in the Queen's Vase (G2) over one mile and six furlongs at Royal Ascot, when he was miles clear of the third. He will need to improve again to compete with the Gordon Stakes principals, but his profile certainly suggests he is going in the right direction and the drop to one mile and four furlongs won't be an issue. John Gosden has won this race five times since 2007 and twice in the last three seasons with top-class pair Cracksman and Logician. It looks significant that his only runner is Darain (GB). He is another with an amazing pedigree and a huge price tag. Darain cost 3.5 million guineas ($4,811,678) as a yearling and is by Dubawi (IRE) out of Dar Re Mi (GB). That makes him a full brother to top-class miler Too Darn Hot (GB) and smart pair So Mi Dar (GB) and Lah Ti Dar (GB), who recorded her best performance over course and distance when landing the Galtres Stakes by ten lengths a couple of years ago. Darain comes here after two easy wins in much weaker company and has loads to find judged on RPRs, but he is completely unexposed and is the unknown quantity in a classy field.