George Boughey is confident that Bow Echo will rise to the occasion in what he describes as the colt's "ultimate test" at Royal Ascot on Tuesday. The 2000 Guineas winner is the standout name among nine colts confirmed for the St James's Palace Stakes, promising a thrilling contest on the opening day of the royal meeting.
Bow Echo, a son of Night Of Thunder, went unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old last season. He was among the leading contenders for the first Classic of the season over the Rowley Mile, but even his trainer admitted to being surprised by the margin of his commanding victory.
The race is shaping up to be one of the week's showcase events. Bow Echo will renew rivalry with Gstaad, who finished second at Newmarket before winning the Irish Guineas. French Guineas champion Rayif and Charlie Appleby's progressive Heron Stakes winner Talk Of New York add further quality to the field.
"It's rare that that happens," Boughey said. "There's often one that goes and gets beat and doesn't make it to Ascot, or a horse that wins both the English and Irish Guineas. To have Charlie's horse in there as a fourth string makes for a pretty big spectacle on day one."
He added: "It's the time of year when the generation is all changing. The Heron winner was probably not physically ready for the Guineas, and there are horses that will be improving. It's a case of who is improving the fastest."
Boughey acknowledged the strength of the opposition: "I think they've all got equal chances. Gstaad was impressive in the Irish Guineas, and he has to be the main danger. Talk Of New York was impressive too; there'd been a big wrap on him through the spring. I hope they go the gallop they did in the Heron, as that would suit us. The unknown is the French form, but Rayif was good that day and won in gutsy fashion."
He concluded: "This is the ultimate test. It's a track he's never been to before, and you have the melting pot of the Ascot parade ring, but he's always given me incredible confidence regarding his mental constitution."
Worryingly for his rivals, Boughey insists Bow Echo's training sessions are even sharper than before his Guineas victory. "He has improved. I worked him on the July course the other day on good to soft ground, and he was electric. He's now a stronger animal, which allows him to handle slightly slower conditions. It's a hard thing to say after winning a Guineas so emphatically, but he is an unbeaten Guineas winner who looks like his best days are ahead of him."
