Royal Ascot hero Acklam Express heads to Goodwood

York return: Connections of Coral-Eclipse runner-up Mishriff say the plan is for the horse to return to York and defend his Juddmonte International crown in August. Picture: Nigel French/PA Wire.

Nigel Tinkler reports that it is the Group Two King George Qatar Stakes during the Glorious Goodwood Festival next for Acklam Express following the four-year-old’s podium finish at Royal Ascot.

The Mehmas gelding was sent off at 200-1 for the King’s Stand Stakes won by Australian raider Nature Strip on the opening day of the Royal meeting, but made a mockery of those odds to come home in third, only a head behind runner-up Twilight Calls, who was the best of the British challenge on the day.

Tinkler is now targeting a return to the Sussex Downs and a track Acklam Express excelled at as a two-year-old for his next appearance, having decided against a run in this weekend’s City Walls Stakes at York.

Goodwood plan: Nigel Tinkler trainer of Royal Ascot surprise package Acklam Express. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/PA Wire.

“He’s absolutely fine, he had a little break after Ascot and is now back cantering away,” said the Malton-based trainer.

“He’ll now go straight to Goodwood for the King George. We did think about running him at York, but we’re now going to head straight to Goodwood. He holds the track record for two-year-olds there so we think that should be the place we should go.

“He was a massive price the other day, but he ran really well and we’re looking forward to having another throw at the dartboard. I don’t think it was a fluke because he has placed in Group races in Dubai before.”

In the immediate aftermath, the trainer spoke of his desire to make the trip to the Breeders’ Cup with the horse. Tinkler has revealed connections have received an invitation to run at Keeneland in November, but may take in the Nunthorpe Stakes on the Knavesmire in August before a final decision is made on any international adventures.

He continued: “He has been invited (to the Breeders’ Cup), but we’ll see how he goes at Goodwood and he might run in the Nunthorpe and then a decision will probably be made after that.”

Although Acklam Express is set to sit out York’s John Smith’s Cup meeting on July 9, one Woodland Stables inmate who could make an appearance is Isla Kai.

The consistent handicapper was last seen finishing a respectable sixth in the Royal Hunt Cup and Tinkler is confident the four-year-old can add to his four career victories if encountering ideal conditions.

“He doesn’t actually need soft ground, he just doesn’t want firm ground. He will be entered for York next Saturday, but won’t run if the ground is quick,” said Tinkler.

Perfect Power heads 16 contenders for Saturday’s Darley July Cup as he seeks to follow up his Royal Ascot success with glory at Newmarket.

Richard Fahey’s charge bounced back from 2000 Guineas disappointment with a decisive length-and-a-quarter victory in the Commonwealth Cup and leads the ante-post market as he prepares to take on older horses for the first time in the six-furlong Group One feature.

Perfect Power will be renewing his Ascot rivalry with second-placed Flaming Rib, who was supplemented at a cost of £36,000 on Monday by trainer Hugo Palmer.

Mishriff could be set to tread a similar path to 12 months ago following his close-up second in the Coral-Eclipse, with a run in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 23 on the cards before he attempts to defend his Juddmonte International crown at York.

“The primary focus is on the Juddmonte. We will stay in the King George and see what sort of race it is and either throw our hat in the mix or bypass and head straight for the Juddmonte.

“I wouldn’t say we’ll definitely go to the King George, but we will see what turns up,” said Ted Voute, racing manager for Mishriff’s owner Prince Faisal.