Space Age Handed Gordon Mission

Time/Date - 14.35hrs local time/Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Goodwood/UK
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m 4f

Space Age steps up to Group Three level for the 12-furlong Neptune Investment Management Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday, July 29.

The three-year-old colt, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, came home a clear second, beaten four lengths by Dartmouth, in a valuable handicap over a mile and a half at Ascot on July 11.

He stayed on well to score comfortably over the same course and distance in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot on June 18 and also captured a 10-furlong handicap at Newmarket on May 29.

Charlie Appleby commented: "Space Age carried top-weight and came up against a progressive horse in Dartmouth last time out.

"We have always liked the horse and this trip is obviously no problem for him. We are in a position where he is always going to be lumbered with a lot of weight in good handicaps, so we thought that we would take our chance at Pattern level.

"He has got a lot to find on official ratings with Highland Reel but we are also re-opposing some of the horses we beat at Royal Ascot. We are there to fight out the minor honours."

Space Age takes on nine other three-year-olds including Prix du Jockey Club second Highland Reel, Hamilton Listed scorer Medrano, Tercentenary Stakes fourth Disegno and King George V Handicap runner-up Scottish.

Stowaway (1997), Nedawi (1998) and Cap O'Rushes (2013) have won the Gordon Stakes for Godolphin.