Sir Michael Stoute’s Across The Stars set to make his reappearance in the Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury on Saturday
Sir Michael Stoute's four-year-old has already missed two of his intended appearances this season in Dubai and at Newmarket after meeting with minor setbacks
CONNECTIONS are hoping Across The Stars can finally make his seasonal reappearance in the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury.
Sir Michael Stoute's four-year-old was ruled out of a trip to Dubai with a spiked temperature and then missed the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket with another minor issue.
But it looks like it is all systems go for Newbury on Saturday and connections are happy enough with the ground after he won the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last year on soft ground.
Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail, said: "It seems every time we get going, he runs up a temperature. It's only for a day and then the next day he is fine.
"We've had a good run with him - he's been working with all his usual zest - so we're looking forward to running.
"He's got form on soft ground so that isn't a worry. He disappointed in the Voltigeur last year, but he came back with a little bit of a temperature, so we had excuses that day."
Midterm gives Sir Michael Stoute a second string to his bow, but the one-time Derby favourite is on something of a recovery mission after finishing fifth in the John Porter at this track last month.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "After Newbury he has come on a fair bit, but he needed to because he was a bit lacklustre there.
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"It looks a very strong race for a Group 3, unfortunately from our point of view.
"We wanted to go to Chester and I suppose after this rain there's got to be some cut in the ground so I just hope it's suitable.
"He has been working quite well recently which is encouraging because he's not a good work horse usually."
My Dream Boat was a shock 16-1 winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot last season for trainer Clive Cox but could not quite recapture that form afterwards.
He finished third in the Gordon Richards Stakes on his return at Sandown last month.
Jason Maguire, racing manager for owners Paul and Clare Rooney, said: "He ran well at Sandown the other day and was staying on nicely at the finish. He should come on a bit for the run.
"I am looking forward to stepping him up to a mile and a half.
"All his races last year, particularly at the backend, suggests it will be in reach."
Charlie Appleby expects to see an improved performance from Hawkbill, who finished fifth in the Prix Ganay at Saint-Cloud at the beginning of the month.
He said: "He has come out of the Ganay well. It just felt they went a French pace in the Ganay and it turned into a sprint, which is one thing that doesn't suit our lad.
"He's a good galloper and does that well.
"Stepping back up to a mile and a half is going to suit and the ground is there to suit. It is a very good Group 3 on paper.
"If he brings his A-game to the table he will be bang there."
Ralph Beckett's Chemical Charge and likely outsider To Be Wild, trained by Hugo Palmer, complete the field.