US raider adds international appeal to July Cup after fine Royal Ascot third

Extravagant Kid is to join a stellar line-up for the Darley July Cup, in which he will renew his rivalry with King's Stand Stakes winner Oxted.

Extravagant Kid, trained in the US by Brendan Walsh, is a general 14-1 chance for the Group 1 on July 10 and was one of 29 horses to stand their ground at the latest scratchings phase, which saw fellow American sprinter Campanelle and Glass Slippers taken out.

Extravagant Kid, who will remain in Abingdon Place Stables in Newmarket until the big race, is the only runner trained outside Britain and Ireland to feature. He enjoyed a top-level breakthrough over six furlongs in Dubai in March before shaping well at Royal Ascot last week, finishing two lengths behind last year’s July Cup winner in third.

That was Irish-born Walsh's first runner in Britain and being represented at Newmarket will be a special moment for the trainer now based in Louisville, Kentucky. He worked for Godolphin and Mark Wallace before taking out a licence.

"I know the place very well,” said Walsh. "I always liked the July meeting and it would be quite something if I could go back there and win the July Cup with this lad.

“I don’t think going back up to six furlongs will be a negative. Although it's a little stiffer than Dubai, you're going downhill a lot of the way. It's probably as far as he needs to go but I think he'll be fine.

“We gave him plenty of time to get over his travelling turnaround but you would think he would be in a better position now having had that run at Ascot.”

Roger Teal: trained Oxted to win his second Group 1 last TuesdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Roger Teal said on Monday he celebrated Oxted's Royal Ascot success "heavily" and confirmed the five-year-old is on course for the July Cup.

Teal rates this year's running as much stronger than last year but insists his horse remains one of the key threats.

"He's going to have some good company but he did it so well himself [at Ascot]," he said. "We're looking forward to it. David Evans' horse [Rohaan] will have to be supplemented, there's the Commonwealth Cup horse [Dragon Symbol] and Starman goes there fresh too which could be a blessing in disguise for him.

"It's going to be a real tough race but they'll be looking at us and going 'hmm, I wish Oxted wasn't there'."

Darley July Cup card and betting

In addition to Oxted, Extravagant Kid could take on Royal Ascot winners Dream Of Dreams, Creative Force and Alcohol Free, while Dragon Symbol, demoted to second in the Commonwealth Cup, also features.

Starman missed the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on account of the ground, but could run on the July course. Fellow Ascot absentee Supremacy is another noteworthy name, along with Nahaarr, Method, Art Power, Lope Y Fernandez and Thunder Moon.

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