Clive Cox is extremely confident about the prospects of Kodi Bear in the Doom Bar Celebration Mile at Goodwood on Saturday.
The Lambourn trainer has always held the colt in high regard but a bad infection in the spring prevented last year's Dewhurst Stakes runner-up from running in the 2000 Guineas.
He did not make his seasonal debut until the end of June, but showed his class when lifting a Listed race at Windsor.
Kodi Bear then had no luck when fourth in the Group One Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly just two weeks later, but was most impressive when winning the Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury a fortnight ago.
The ultimate objective is the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day in October and this race fits in nicely with Cox's plans.
"He's a horse we've always held in high regard. I'm delighted he's now confirming the promise we always hoped and believed we should be seeing," he told At The Races.
"He came out of his last race fine. Clearly he's very versatile on ground as well which is an important factor this week.
"He's pleased us with his progress since then. I was truly happy. That was a very nice confidence (booster) more than anything at Salisbury.
"The QEII was on our minds very much before the Salisbury run and that confirms it wasn't a foolish plan to be aiming at.
"We've got him entered everywhere but this race feels a very sensible step to take and I'm delighted he's in great form.
"They're are all nice horses in their own right, but on the form we're the horse to beat.
"I'm very relaxed about him. He's one of the few horses that seems to be content on most surfaces. To have a horse with that, especially with the weather at the moment, is very satisfying."
Breton Rock needs soft ground to be seen at his best and with conditions set to suit, his trainer David Simcock is expecting a good display.
Simcock was pleased with the five-year-old's latest effort when he was third to Adaay in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury in what was his first run since the end of May.
"He's in excellent order. He's come out of the race very well," said the Newmarket handler.
"He ran well at Newbury with possibly a progressive three-year-old (Adaay) winning the race.
"It was his first run in quite a while, so he'll probably be better for the run anyway.
"Seven furlongs is a very a specialist trip, but he ran well enough in the Lockinge and stayed on well on ground that was probably quicker than ideal for him.
"We'll go there on Saturday and soft ground is more important than anything for him and that's vital to him."
Cable Bay was a length and a quarter behind Breton Rock in fourth place at Newbury and his trainer Charlie Hills was also happy to see the rain arrive.
"The ground will be ideal for him, he likes a bit of give and I think he's quite capable of winning a race like this," said the Lambourn handler.
"He's a very good horse and has got some excellent form and I'm happy with his training.
"Obviously you have to respect Kodi Bear, but having said that, ours is a very good horse so we'll give it our best shot."
Gabrial belied his odds of 50-1 when third to Solow in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood this summer.
It was the second time he had taken minor honours in the Group one over mile having filled that position in 2012 behind the mighty Frankel.
Because of his liking for the Sussex track, Richard Fahey is turning the six-year-old out quickly after he finished sixth to Mondialiste in the Strensall Stakes at York last weekend.
"The race has cut up a bit. The ground probably hasn't helped, said the Malton trainer.
"His best runs have been at Goodwood, so we'll see how he gets on there again."
