Encke stepping up at Goodwood
July 31, 2012 09:47:09 UK
Godolphin's Encke hits Group company for the first time this afternoon at Goodwood and trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni is confident about his chances.
Encke is 9.00 to win the 2.35 at Goodwood, with Michelangelo 2.50 and Girolamo 5.50.
This is a step up in class, but I think he's going to run very well because his last piece of work was very good.
Mahmood Al Zarooni
The three-year-old has already won two of his three races, winning by half a length after going to the front in a ten furlong Sandown Park race with a quarter of a mile left.
That was last month and prior to that he had won at Newmarket in October 2011 when quickening clear impressively to win by over four lengths.
The trainer - assessing his chances today - said: "He is in good form and has improved as a result of his race earlier in the month. This is a step up in class, but I think he's going to run very well because his last piece of work was very good.
"He is likely to get better the further he goes and hopefully he could become a St Leger contender. His half brother Genius Beast stayed well and ran in the St Leger."
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford added: "He could be a St Leger type, but he has to prove himself which is why we are going for the Gordon Stakes."
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