Lethal sprinter out for more glory
The Lambourn trainer puts the grey’s improved form down to his physical development from three to four and expects his speedster to have more in the locker after his emphatic success in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
“He’s been in great nick since that wonderful day at Royal Ascot and it’s great to be going there with him in such good form,” said Cox.
“I expressed before he has really blossomed from three to four and that is clearly visible in the standard of performance we have been able to see so far.”
Lethal Force had just been touched off by Society Rock on his seasonal reappearance at York in May but turned that form around at Royal Ascot despite being worse off at the weights.
“He improved markedly even from that great run in the Duke of York with the weight situation and everything with Society Rock having a Group One penalty for that meeting,” he told At The Races.
“We were on level weights at Ascot so we clearly upped our game a bit and he’s in similar form to that.”
Lethal Force made the running at Ascot after being smartly away and running keenly, but Cox believes he does not have to set his own pace.
“He doesn’t have to make the running. With the pace of the race at Ascot he took Adam (Kirby) there early on at Ascot and found a nice rhythm,” he told www.britishchampionseries.com.
“When he did gather himself up and Adam gave him a squeeze he clearly changed gear.
“In his work at home he switches off beautifully as well so we are not bound by any decisions in that respect.
“Reading the horse’s body language and the way he has trained since he came back from Ascot I’m very confident.”
Kirby’s only slight concern is whether Lethal Force will handle the July Course gradients.
“He’s four now and he’s big and he’s strong. Although he didn’t look it he was a weak sort of three-year-old.
“Now he’s improved, he’s filled out and he’s a proper horse.
“Providing he comes down the hill at Newmarket he’ll run well.”
Sole Power has yet to win at six furlongs, but his trainer Eddie Lynam feels his dual Group One winner has every chance of doing himself justice at the longer distance as he settles better in his races these days.
“Any time he’s run over six, he hasn’t got five of it. He’s never really settled over six furlongs and he’s never really finished,” the County Meath said.
“This year, the way he hit the line in the King’s Stand you’d have said he would have gone another 100 yards no problem.
“If he settles, it gives him a 50-50 chance of getting the six. If he gets the six, he deserves a huge amount of respect. He’s a very good horse.
“He’s won the King’s Stand, he’s won the Nunthorpe, and in the middle he’s run some great races.
“I think it’s only in the last 12 months that he’s got everything together and he’s producing his A-game nine times out of 10. On his last three visits to England when Johnny (Murtagh) has ridden him he’s won.”
Lynam has a second string to his bow in Slade Power, who has triumphed in the Group Three Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh since finishing seventh in the Diamond Jubilee.
“There’s only two Group One sprints left in England this year and we think he deserves his chance,” he said.
“He’s a horse we rate quite high. At the moment he’s a proven Group Three/Listed performer, this is a step up for him.
“He’s looked the real deal in his homework and he’s promising, but he’s just got to deliver.”
Aidan O’Brien has an interesting contender in Gale Force Ten, who drops back to six furlongs for the first time this season.
Fourth in the French 2000 Guineas and runner-up in the Irish 2000, the colt won the Jersey stakes over seven furlongs at Royal Ascot last time.
“He’s in good form and was just beaten in the Norfolk last year by a very fast horse (Reckless Abandon),” said the Ballydoyle handler.
“He’s run over six furlongs, it was seven at Ascot and he’s run over a mile. It’s a big drop back, but it will be interesting.
“He’s a bit in the Mozart mould, really. Mozart was second in an Irish Guineas, just won the Jersey Stakes at Ascot and then came back here (for the July Cup in 2001).
“This horse is a little bit like that, so it will be interesting.”
Australian raider Shamexpress finished four and a half lengths behind Sole Power when ninth in the King’s Stand but his trainer Danny O’Brien expects a better performance over six furlongs.
“His best form in Australia is over six furlongs – that’s the distance at which he won a Group One back home two starts ago,” he said. “His performance in the King’s Stand was similar to his run over five behind Black Caviar in the Lightning Stakes prior to the Newmarket. He is just a bit more balanced and hits the line better over six.
