Dushyantor has plenty to find

Ratings

Classic Cliche should gain one of those straightforward victories to which horses of his class are occasionally entitled if Godolphin decides he is to go for the Group Two Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The last reigning Ascot Gold Cup winner to take the contest was Ardross, in 1981 and 1982 - when he gave Lester Piggott his 4,000th winner.

Classic Cliche has proved the most durable of Godolphin's classic winners and his battling qualities brought out his best performance in defeat by Geoff Wragg's Pentire in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot, which was run in an exceptionally fast time. The son of Salse can now be rated as high as 133.

This year's St Leger aspirants can only suffer by comparison with last year's victor, as the representative of what is now emerging as an exceptional crop.

Even allowing for the 6lb penalty Classic Cliche would have to carry if he runs, Dushyantor would have a lot to find on Saturday, in terms of temperament as well as ability. Neither Henry Cecil's charge nor any of the three-year-olds left in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes look up to St Leger standard.

GEOFFREY FREER STAKES: Classic Cliche 133, Posidonas 125, Dushyantor 122, Minds Music 120, Key To My Heart 119, Phantom Gold 119, Russian Snows 118, Wayne Country 118, Whitechapel 118, Blushing Flame 117, Song Of Tara 117, Murajja 116, Lear White 114, Samraan 110, High Baroque 110, Summer Spell 101, Arnhem 92