Burgeoning operation Phoenix Thoroughbred is hoping that its dual Group 1 hero Advertise can add another top-level contest to his name when he contests the July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday.
The three-year-old returned to his very best at Royal Ascot last month when a dominant winner of the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, beating the Phoenix Ladies Syndicate-owned Forever In Dreams.
Since bursting onto the scene in 2017, Phoenix Thoroughbred has made a number of high-profile acquisitions, stating its ambition to compete at the top tables of Australian and European racing.
The performance of Advertise has illustrated that ambition and Amer Abdulaziz Salman, Phoenix’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “There’s no doubt about it, Advertise is the best three-year-old sprinter in the country. He’s done extremely well since Royal Ascot and we’re just hoping that he does the same in the July Cup.
“He’s getting better all the time and is in good form. Martyn [Meade] is happy with him and there’ll be a lot of people there on Saturday to cheer him on.”
Advertise is of course a future stallion prospect and victory in Saturday’s sprint will only enhance his value further. Phoenix Thoroughbred already own a 50% stake in National Stud resident Aclaim, as well as partnering with Australian operation Aquis Farm to stand Invader.
Abudlaziz said: “We’re trying to build our own stallion roster and Advertise is a horse that we own, so it will be a great achievement for us to have a stallion like him going forward.”
Advertise will face 11 rivals in Saturday’s feature including the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Dream Of Dreams, who came within a whisker of denying Godolphin’s Blue Point in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
The race has an international flavour thanks to the declaration of star Singapore sprinter Lim’s Cruiser, trained by New Zealand-born Stephen Gray. The six-year-old had been brought over for Royal Ascot last month when he finished behind both Blue Point and Dream Of Dreams in the Diamond Jubilee.
Henry Candy’s Limato gained a first top-level success in this contest back in 2016 and went on to finish second behind Harry Angel in the 2017 renewal. While the seven-year-old hasn’t been at his best since then, he returned to winning ways over course and distance last month to beat Glorious Journey.
The July Cup is one of seven races staged at Newmarket’s July course on Saturday and the card also features the Group 2 Superlative Stakes. A field of eight will go to post for the two-year-old contest including the Richard Hannon-trained Wild Thunder, one of a number of eye-catching winners for his sire Night Of Thunder.
Read Julian Muscat’s in-depth interview with Phoenix Thoroughbred from last year here
