Senator ready to fly

CONNECTIONS of Senator feel he has every chance of extending his unbeaten run to three when stepping up in trip in the Weatherbys Stallion Book Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster on Friday.

The Richard Fahey-trained two-year-old will try to match the achievements of his sire Frankel, who took the seven-furlong prize by 13 lengths back in 2010 when it was run as a conditions event.

After making a winning start over six furlongs at Leicester in July the Cheveley Park Stud-owned colt followed it up with facile success over the same trip at Carlisle last month.

Chris Richardson, racing manager to the owners, said: "He's a horse that needs a bit further, but because he's quite highly strung, we've run him over shorter to try and teach him to settle.

"He's won well on both his starts and has continued to improve since.

"We're looking forward to running him and we're just hoping he's not too fractious in the early stages."

Frankel will also be represented by the Hugo Palmer-trained Majoris, who failed in his attempt to complete a hat-trick of wins when upped to Pattern level at Sandown having previously scored at Brighton and Newmarket.

Palmer said: "He is in great shape but he didn't like the soft ground last time out at Sandown.

"We are hoping the ground dries out for him. We think he should be at least up to Listed class as he won his nursery by seven lengths at Newmarket.

"I don't think he has to necessarily lead but he was the best horse in the race at Newmarket that day and we decided to keep it simple."

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Taamol went into the notebooks of many when making a winning debut, despite veering across the track late on, at Newmarket in June.

Although not seen out since connections are hoping he can reward their patience.

Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: "He won nicely first time out. He was a bit green that day but he will come on for it, although he will have to as this is a step up.

"He has been given a typical Sir Michael Stoute preparation, where he has been given time rather than go quickly again.

"He has just given him time as he is not a precocious horse but more of a late-maturing horse. He has just gone quietly about things and hopefully he can now take this next step up."

Rodaini from the yard of Simon Crisford will bid to make it four runs without defeat, while both first-time-out maiden winner Salsabeel, from the yard of Charlie Appleby, and Larchmont Lad, the representative of Richard Hannon, will be others defending unbeaten profiles.

The field is completed by the Brian Meehan-trained Bacchus.