Knightsbridge aces two-turn test in Monmouth Cup

Knightsbridge booked himself a return to top-level company with a monster performance in the G3 Monmouth Cup on Saturday, with the Nyquist entire opening up some exciting new options around two turns in the process.

The half-brother to Speaker’s Corner scored by a spectacular 10 and a quarter lengths on his first try over nine furlongs, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 122 in the process – the highest since Flightline took the Pacific Classic in 2022.

Knightsbridge was only stretching out in distance due to the lack of alternative options over seven furlongs and a mile ahead of his intended big summer target of the G1 Forego Stakes in late August. The manner of his success suggests that he could remain over further distances, with races like the G1 Pacific Classic and G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup also coming into consideration.

Symbol Of Honour also produced a noteworthy effort on the same day as he lowered Newbury’s six-furlong course record when comfortably winning the G3 Hackwood Stakes.

Winner of last season’s G2 Sandy Lane Stakes, the four-year-old posted creditable efforts in two of Europe’s top sprints last season and could return to deeper company ahead of another winter in Dubai.

The ever-reliable Wayward Act registered a seventh dirt victory in Japan on Saturday with a decisive win in Hakodate’s Marine Stakes. The six-year-old, who was posting a fourth Stakes success, has finished in the first three on all but one of his 13 starts, including filling the runner-up spot in February’s NAR G3 Kakitsubata Kinen.

Royal Spire has also found a consistent spell of form on dirt, and the Tower Of London colt notched his second win in three starts when gamely taking a Fukushima allowance race. His sire enjoyed a good weekend as his unbeaten daughter Felicita captured the JRA’s first juvenile Group race of the year, the G3 Hakodate Nisai Stakes.

Godolphin’s most decorated horse of all time, Rebel’s Romance, retired from racing this week following his victory in the G2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival earlier in the month.

During an outstanding career, the son of Dubawi won 22 races in six countries including nine at G1 level. A superb ambassador for Godolphin across seven seasons, the Eclipse Award winner will hopefully continue to represent the royal blue silks as part of the Godolphin Lifetime Care programme.