Tyrrhenian Sea bids to continue his excellent record at Lingfield Park in the 10-furlong Listed Midnite Quebec Stakes (2.00pm) on Wednesday, December 31.
Roger Varian’s runner has yet to finish out of the first two in five starts at the Surrey course, including victories in the 2023 edition of this race and last season’s Listed BetMGM Tandridge Stakes.
The seven-year-old chased home Lord North in the 2023 G3 Winter Derby and Royal Champion in the 2024 Quebec Stakes, with the latter going on to G2 victories in the York Stakes and Bahrain International Trophy.
Tyrrhenian Sea shaped well on his first start since June when taking third behind Holloway Boy in the Listed Hyde Stakes at Kempton Park earlier this month, a race in which Torito finished sixth.
Torito heads two contenders for John & Thady Gosden as he looks to reverse the form. The son of Kingman has twice finished third at Listed level, including in the 2024 Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The stable’s other runner Nebras steps back up in class following a front-running success in a 10-furlong handicap at Newcastle last month, his second appearance after a gelding operation.
A debut winner at Newmarket as a juvenile, the half-brother to Nashwa was seventh in the G1 Futurity Trophy and contested two Listed races in the spring, including finishing second in the Newmarket Stakes.
Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner-breeder Imad Alsagar, said: “Nebras is doing well and probably would have needed his first couple of runs back after being gelded. I hope he can take another step forward at Lingfield – and he will need to as it looks a solid contest.
“We have always had a good opinion of the horse. He is a robust type with a lovely pedigree and a bit of scope, so we hope the best is still to come as he heads into his four-year-old year.
“Now the Winter Derby is back to a mile and a quarter, that would look a nice option for him in the new year, although he would have to perform well on Wednesday. Let’s see how he goes.”
Former Gosden inmate Military Academy makes his first appearance for Jane Chapple-Hyam. The four-year-old posted two of his best performances to date on the all-weather, easily winning last season’s Listed Floodlit Stakes and finishing second to Royal Champion in the G3 Winter Derby.
David O’Meara saddles Duke’s Command, who relished the step up to 10 furlongs when coming from last to first in a class two handicap at the course earlier this month. The son of Dubawi cost 1.6m guineas as a yearling and hails from the same family as Classic winners Minding and Tuesday.
