'I know he'll improve' - Clive Cox eyeing another Mill Reef with emerging star

Clive Cox, who has won the Mill Reef Stakes in recent years with class acts Harry Angel and Wings Of War, has his sights firmly fixed on the race again with the promising .

Owned by Jason Goddard, whose Supremacy was a star for Cox, Heroism was bought by the trainer for €100,000 last year and made a winning debut at Salisbury last month.

He is now set to line up in the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Mill Reef, the Group 2 that headlines Newbury's action on Saturday.

"He hadn't been on the grass since way back in the spring," said Cox. "Because of that, it was all the more pleasing the way he won at Salisbury and I think he's worthy of taking a step into a race like that.

"He's a good-looking horse who has always given us that promise. With any horse, you keep raising the bar and hope the questions get answered. He's done that so we're hopeful he's going to step forward again, while I don't think he'll mind any ease in the ground."

Harry Angel, Supremacy and Wings Of War ended their juvenile campaigns right at the top of Cox's two-year-old pecking order, but were not first-time-out winners.

"We have enough first-time-out winners, but we're not hurrying them to be at their peaks on debut," the Lambourn trainer added. "So, whatever the result, we find progress from that first start and that's why I was so pleased with Heroism at Salisbury because I know he's going to improve."

Cox was also thrilled to see the well-regarded get off the mark at Chepstow on Thursday and is considering Newbury's Virgin Bet Horris Hill Stakes on October 22 for the Isa Salman Al Khalifa-owned colt.

"I think he could get seven furlongs and there's the possibility he'd also get a mile, which would be great," he said. "That was how it felt watching him win at Chepstow, which is a stiff track and he skipped along a bit.

"He'll have learned a huge amount and we've time to think about his next run, which might be the only other one he has this year, but he'll be a proper horse next year.

"I trained his dam Swing Out Sister, who was quick and quite handy, but, from the day I bought him, he hasn't stopped growing into a strong and scopey horse. He's exciting."

Sydneyarms Chelsea: Ryan Moore won on her last timeCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

, another Lambourn-trained juvenile, is being pointed at the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on September 23.

She was withdrawn from Sunday's Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh because of the ground, but had shown a likeable attitude when winning a Deauville Group 3 under Ryan Moore on her last run.

Charlie Hills's inmate runs in the colours of Cornthrop Bs & Sydney Arms Chelsea and Emma Spencer, speaking on behalf of the owners, said: "The ground in Ireland could have been quite testing, which is why she didn't run. She'll probably step up to a Group 2 and go for the Rockfel.

"That was kind of plan A anyway and Ryan liked her at Deauville; she's a lovely, big filly who should stay a mile. She goes with some cut in the ground, but wouldn't want it too bad and Ryan thought the Rockfel was a good slot."

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