Robert Cowell hoping 'talented' Arecibo gets rub of the green at Doncaster

Robert Cowell is hoping his King's Stand Stakes runner-up Arecibo can take advantage of a drop in grade when he lines up in the Listed Cazoo Scarbrough Stakes on the opening day of Doncaster's St Leger meeting on Wednesday.

After two early strikes in handicap company Arecibo has been tackling the best 5f sprinters in Europe this season, finishing second to Oxted at the highest level in the King's Stand before finishing a neck second in Group 3 company at Sandown and an honourable fourth in the Group 2 King George Stakes at Goodwood.

4.00 Doncaster Wednesday: Cazoo Scarbrough Stakes racecard and betting

Owned by Tom Morley, Arecibo failed to land a blow in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes on his last start, but Cowell has not lost faith and is hoping a drop in grade at Doncaster can set him up for some big-race targets towards the end of the season.

"The Nunthorpe was a bit of a disaster really being drawn on the stands' side and all the action and speed was on the far side," said Cowell. "We just got a little bit left and couldn't catch up. Hopefully we can make amends at Doncaster and put him back in the winner's circle.

Arecibo (right) last struck in a Newmarket handicap earlier in the campaignCredit: Megan Ridgwell

"After Wednesday we'll probably go to Newbury for the Group 3 World Trophy [on September 18] and then he's in the Prix de l'Abbaye [at Longchamp on October 3]. We still believe greatly in the horse and he just hasn't had the rub of the green. We're pretty sure we can get him back on track and he looks an absolute picture."

Arecibo's rivals on Wednesday include Khaadem and last year's winner Tarboosh, and Cowell is hoping for a truly run race and a slice of luck.

He added: "I've trained him for that race and we want a nice, fast pace to aim at. He's been the last horse off the bridle in every race this year and he's talented enough if things just drop right."

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