Lockinge Stakes favourite Damysus will drop in trip to 1m as he contests the Group 1 on Saturday. Owners Wathnan Racing are excited about their colt’s chances.
The son of Frankel will bid to give the Gosden yard a hat-trick in the race. Audience and Lead Artist were both under-the-radar winners for Clarehaven in the past two renewals, but Damysus appears the type who could continue at the very top.
That is not to say the route there has been easy and obvious. Damysus has raced just once at a trip short of 1m when winning over 7f on debut, Indeed, he has never raced over this exact distance, as he was initially pegged as a Derby prospect. He was second at this time last season in the Dante Stakes at York before being a clear non-stayer when last of 18 at Epsom.
Three wins on the bounce have followed, however. A Listed win over 1m2f at Deauville preceded back-to-back wins over 1m1f at Newmarket. They were each achieved in Group 3 company, where he showed a blistering turn-of-foot to put the race to bed on return. That latest victory has set him up as favourite for a yard who have achieved so much success in the Lockinge Stakes in the recent past.
“We think he’s getting faster and faster” – Richard Brown
Damysus is a striking horse to watch in action. A chestnut with an enormous white blaze, he will be a fan favourite at Newbury, as well as with the bookies.
He is also a favourite of Wathnan Racing’s advisor Richard Brown. Speaking to the Racing Post, he is excited about the new distance for the four-year-old.
“Damysus is in great nick. He’s a complete dude of a horse and has an amazing temperament. He ran a very good race in the Dante this time last year and then we had a crack at the Derby, but we think he’s got more speed now. It’ll be interesting to see how he goes over a mile.
“We think he’s just getting faster and faster and when James [Doyle] got off of him at Newmarket, he said he’s definitely got the speed for a mile. He had to take a pull on him two furlongs out, which you rarely see there. We’ll find out on Saturday, but I’d be pretty confident he’ll be fine over a mile. Whether he’s up to Group 1 standard, there’s only one way to find out.
“He’s really strengthened over the winter and we’re very fortunate that it’s never a rush with the horses in our operation. It’s always about what’s best for them.”
Damysus could face 12 rivals in the Lockinge after confirmations were made on Monday. They include Godolphin’s impressive Sandown scorer Opera Ballo and The Lion In Winter for Ballydoyle.