NEWMARKET-based trainer David Elsworth is all set to send progressive colt, Dash Of Spice, for the 59th renewal of the John Smith’s Cup at York on Saturday.

Elsworth also plans to be represented in the £200,000 heritage handicap by Master The World.

But it is the four-year-old Dash Of Spice who is sure to attract plenty of interest when he attempts to pull off a notable three-timer this weekend.

The Jeff Smith-owned son of Teofilo registered high-profile victories at Epsom on Derby day and also at Royal Ascot in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes.

Now he must shoulder 9st 7lb and step back in distance by almost two furlongs to an extended mile and a quarter.

Elsworth said of the market leader: “He is at a progressive stage of his career – he’s improved the last couple of runs.

“This is a drop back in trip of course. It was a mile and a half at Epsom and Ascot.

“But he has got plenty of ability to win over a mile and a quarter, of course he has.

“Mr Smith is an ambitious, speculative man, despite his modesty, and he has entered him in the Juddmonte International. Even though the horse has a lump of weight to carry this would give us an indication whether or not he’s chasing rainbows.”

Master The World has shown a liking for York in the past and scored in a mile handicap at the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival four years ago.

Now seven years old he is still a classy campaigner as he demonstrated when winning the Group 3 Winter Derby at Lingfield in February. The grey is set to carry top weight of 9st 10lb.

Elsworth said: “He is always a danger. He’s bound for Goodwood after York where he’ll contest the mile race which he’s won and been second in.

“He’ll probably go and have another crack at that. But this race, while sort of a prep, he’s not going in there as a forlorn hope. He’s a course winner and sluiced up with Kieren (Fallon) one day there, I remember.

“Those who know seem to underrate him a bit, I think. He’s quite useful. He’s not there to make the numbers up.
“He’s run well over a mile and a quarter. There’s every indication, if it’s a good gallop, he’ll finish well. So he goes there with a sporting chance.”

York’s two-day fixture starts on Friday when the £65,000 Group Three Summer Stakes will be the highlight.

Saturday’s racing gets underway at 1.55pm with the Listed John Smith’s City Walls Stakes, one of seven contests on the card.