Drama building towards Flemington Group One

Classic-placed Endless Drama is settling in well to life in Australia, and made a big impression in a trial at Cranbourne on Monday.

Now trained by Chris Waller, the high-class four-year-old was ridden by Craig Williams who settled him in before letting him ease clear. Qatar Racing's Australia representative, Geoffrey Faber, said of Endless Drama: ‚"He looked fantastic and Craig's enthusiasm was not matched by anything I have heard before.‚"

Waller said: ‚"The pace wasn't overly strong but he travelled on the bridle throughout. As they approached the turn he let down very strongly to come away with a comfortable victory. Craig said the horse is spot on for the Mackinnon Stakes [now called the Emirates Stakes].‚"

That Group One test takes place over ten furlongs at Melbourne on November 5, and was won three years ago by Side Glance, who carried Jamie Spencer wearing Sheikh Fahad's Pearl Bloodstock colours.

Formerly trained by Ger Lyons, Endless Drama is owned by partnership involving Sheikhs Khalifa and Suhaim and Qatar Racing. He was second to Gleneagles in last year's Gr.1 Irish 2000 Guineas when beaten just three-quarters of a length, and earlier this year he was third in the Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury (pictured right in centre of shot).

Qatar Racing's two QIPCO British Champions Day heroes, Simple Verse and Lightning Spear, are reported to have come out of their races in good health. Simple Verse, who was third in the QIPCO Long Distance Cup, is trained by Ralph Beckett, who said: ‚"She is fine the slow pace was against her, but it was still a fine effort and close to her best.‚"

David Simcock, who saddled Lightning Spear to take third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, said: ‚"He has come out of the race very well he has a great constitution and you wouldn't really know he ran on Saturday. All in all it was a career best and we were delighted with him.‚"

Qatar Bloodstock stallion Harbour Watch, who stands at Tweenhills in Gloucestershire and is compiling a growing list of winners with his first crop of runners, is represented by two colts in a one-mile maiden (15.45) at Navan this afternoon. Both unraced Act Of Valour and Harbour Beacon are owned by Qatar Racing

Act Of Valour is trained by Michael O'Callaghan and ridden by apprentice Shane Kelly, while Colin Keane rides Harbour Beacon, who made such a good impression when chasing home the far more experienced Finn McCool at today's venue two weeks ago. ‚"Inexperience beat him last time,‚" said Lyons. ‚"He is in good order and hopefully the ground will not get too bad.‚" O'Callaghan said of Act Of Valour: ‚"He has gone through a stage of growing lately I expect him to come on a great deal for the outing.‚"

Earlier on the Navan card Johnny Murtagh runs Porto Ferro in a maiden over five furlongs (14.05), while the Roger Varian-trained Fourth Way tackles a fillies' handicap at Newmarket (17.20) under Oisin Murphy.