Icon praised for quick comeback

Sixties Icon could be back out again at Newbury on Saturday week following his triumphant return to form in the Group Three Glorious Stakes.

Owner Paul Roy mentioned in the aftermath of last week’s Goodwood race about the Breeders’ Cup being an option at the end of the year.

The 2006 St Leger winner was also this week entered in the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Sixties Icon could be joined in Australia by Milne Graden, also owned by Roy and trained by Jeremy Noseda, but first on the agenda is the Geoffrey Freer Stakes.

Noseda said: “I was very happy with Sixties Icon’s performance on ground that would have been a little quicker than he would really like.

“But there’s no doubt that he clearly loves it around Goodwood.

“I’d like to pay a big compliment to his rider, Johnny Murtagh. He walked the course on the morning of the race and assured me that it was safe ground and definitely not too quick.

“All being well, if we are happy with him, we will head to the Geoffrey Freer next.”

Milne Graden is still set for the totesport Ebor, despite his sixth-placed finish when favourite in a Goodwood handicap.

“I was disappointed with Milne Graden’s performance at Goodwood but he didn’t handle the ground and we could possibly have over-done the waiting tactics,” the trainer told www.jeremynoseda.com.

“However, it was still only his prep race for the Ebor.

“We still feel that on good ground that he is a live contender for that race.

“But if it was very fast ground, he would be unlikely to take his place in the line-up.”