Extravagant Kid part of 18-horse July Cup at Newmarket

Eight-year-old Extravagant Kid’s global adventures continue Saturday at Newmarket in the Group 1 July Cup.

The American-based gelding became the first U.S. shipper to win a Dubai turf stakes when he captured the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint over a straight six furlongs on March 27 at Meydan, and Extravagant Kid took that trip so well that trainer Brendan Walsh and owner David Ross soon plotted another. In June, Extravagant Kid shipped to England and finished a solid third in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes on opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting, and he has hung around to race again Saturday over a straight six furlongs.

The added furlong is likely to help more than hinder Extravagant Kid, and good-to-firm conditions (as of Thursday) also should suit the gelding, but he meets a very strong group in a July Cup that drew 18 entrants. Frankie Dettori rides Extravagant Kid, who breaks from post 12 and was priced at 15-1 and higher by British bookmakers as of Thursday.

“He looks fantastic,” said Walsh, who didn’t go to Ascot but has traveled for this race. “He’s thriving over here. We worked him on the track the other day – they go down a dip and then there’s a rise – and he seemed to handle all that real good, didn’t bother him at all.”

The antepost betting favorites, none a defined public choice, are Starman, Oxted, and Dragon Symbol. Oxted won the 2020 July Cup and exits a strong score in the King’s Stand, but that win came cutting back in trip after Oxted, who had surgery to correct a breathing problem last year, lost four in a row over six furlongs.

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Starman, a lightly raced 4-year-old, finished 14th last fall over very soft ground he couldn’t tolerate but otherwise is unbeaten. His lone race this season was a win two months ago in the Group 2 Clipper Logistics Stakes over six furlongs at York, and Starman feels like an underlay at the Thursday odds being offered.

Dragon Symbol is one of seven 3-year-olds in the race, all of whom get six pounds from their older rivals, and he comes off a tough disqualification in the age-restricted Group 1 Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs at Royal Ascot. Dragon Symbol pushed the American filly Campanelle several paths off her line during the final furlong and was demoted to second.

Rohan, another 3-year-old, beat Dragon Symbol earlier this year, while the Godolphin colt Creative Force, 4 for 4 this year and a strong winner of the seven-furlong Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, should race competitively.