Unbeaten colt Caravaggio heads a select field of 10 for the July Cup at Newmarket with his performance to determine a trip to Australia for The Everest.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Caravaggio will face older sprinters for the first time on Saturday (Sunday AEST) as he tries to take his perfect record to seven.
His latest success came in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot where he produced a devastating burst of speed to defeat Harry Angel by three-quarters of a length.
The Clive Cox-trained Harry Angel is again among his rivals with another O’Brien-trained three-year-old Intelligence Cross in the mix.
Leading the older brigade is last year’s winner Limato who aims to become only the third horse since the Second World War to record back-to-back victories.
Only Abernant (1949 and 1950) and Right Boy (1958 and 1959) have succeeded in defending their crown.
The Henry Candy-trained five-year-old showed he was returning to his best form when a close third to The Tin Man in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The Tin Man, trained by James Fanshawe, will be attempting the Group One double.
Irish racing giant Coolmore has indicated Caravaggio is its preferred choice to occupy its slot in the $10 million Everest at Randwick in October.