Jack Hobbs© Photo Healy Racing
Newmarket racegoers are in for a rare treat when two Classic winners clash in the Dunaden At Overbury Jockey Club Stakes on Saturday.
Jack Hobbs, winner of the Irish Derby, takes on St Leger heroine Simple Verse as both horses make their seasonal debuts in this Group Two contest over a mile and a half.
Trainer John Gosden is looking forward to Jack Hobbs returning to action, although he is sure the Halling colt will benefit greatly from the outing.
"I think it is amazing that you are getting an Irish Derby winner and St Leger winner meeting at this time of year as you expect it in the Coronation Cup or King George," said Gosden.
"Our horse is in top form and I am happy with him, but like all of them the race will bring him on a lot.
"It looks a proper Jockey Club Stakes, as sometimes it can cut up."
While admitting taking on such a classy colt early on in the campaign is not ideal, connections of the Ralph Beckett-trained Simple Verse are keen to see how she is shaping up.
"She is in great form, it is a tough thing taking on a horse like Jack Hobbs with a filly this early in the season, but the options are few and far between," said David Redvers, racing manager to owners Qatar Racing.
"Obviously as we (Qipco) sponsor at Newmarket the owners are keen to come here. Ralph Beckett's horses are generally in good form and from what I hear she is working very well.
"We have to find out somewhere how they match up."
Star Storm was a colt very much on the up at the end of 2015 as he notched up a hat-trick culminating with victory in the Group Three Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot.
Trainer James Fanshawe has had this race in mind for some time as a starting point.
"He was very babyish about a lot of things and was just very immature (early last season)," said the Newmarket handler.
"He really got his act together, though, in the autumn, winning his maiden in September before winning a Group race in October.
"He appears physically tighter and much fitter than this time last year. He looks really well, but he does not show you a great deal at home.
"The plan has been to start him off in the Jockey Club Stakes, whether Jack Hobbs turned up there or not. I am sure his owner will have some ambitious plans for him."
Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Mohammed Obaida, is "hopeful" Star Storm can live with this extremely strong opposition.
"We've got to start him off somewhere. I saw him on Thursday morning and he looks tremendous," he said.
"James is very happy with him. He's in at the deep end for his first start and he needed his first start badly last year, but in general he's going much better than he did this time last year.
"He's a pretty decent horse and we're hopeful. It's a good starting point and we'll see where we are with him and how he performs with these very good horses."
Michael Bell is keeping his fingers crossed the rain stays away so he can run Big Orange.
The five-year-old has proved himself to be a top stayer, winning the Goodwood Cup last summer. He then went on his travels, finishing fifth in the Melbourne Cup on November and runner-up in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan five weeks ago.
"He'll run if the rain stays away, but we are doing a weather watch," said the Newmarket trainer.
"The horse has come back from Dubai in very good form, but we're keeping an eye on the weather."
