Glorious Goodwood: Stevens hopeful he has a strong string

Mystique Rider was third in the EBF Maiden Stakes for Stevens at the festival in 2013.

Having built on successes in his first year, he hopes to field a particularly impressive team at this prestigious meeting. Heading the list is Extortionist, who was beaten by just a head in a Group 3 race at the Curragh recently and is now heading for the King George Stakes at Goodwood.

The three-year-old won the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot as a juvenile, and made an impressive return this season winning in style at Newmarket.

Stevens said: “There was no pace in his recent race at the Curragh and his only option was to make the pace. He was spot on for the race, but it was inevitable that he would be caught because of the way the race was run- but it was better to do that and be narrowly beaten than to finish down the field had he waited.”

Gang Warfare will run at Glorious in a middle-distance race, while Shackled and Drawn could also be in the team. Green Door, who won a Group 2 race as a juvenile, is also heading for Glorious.

Stevens explained: “ In the Kings Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot he had a solid run. I always said that if he could beat four or five horses home in that outing I would be happy.

“He is a well-balanced horse and I have always wanted to run him at Goodwood, where I think he will go well and be suited by the track.

“I also have a two-year-old Montjeu filly that is fit enough to run in a race at the meeting,” he added.

Another bound for Glorious Goodwood is a Montjeu two-year-old, Sense of Victory, who Stevens says has progressed so well that she will be entered.

JEANNIE KNIGHT