Dee Ex Bee Faces Lightly Raced Frankel Filly in Gordon

Investec Derby (G1) runner-up Dee Ex Bee has not hit the heights he scaled at Epsom in two outings since, making the four-runner Qatar Gordon Stakes (G3) Aug. 4 both an excellent opportunity to record a victory for the first time this season and a key test of his credentials on the final day of Glorious Goodwood.

Only Masar beat Dee Ex Bee in the Derby, in which the Mark Johnston-trained colt showed plenty of stamina and tenacity to reclaim second in the closing stages.

However, he has failed to build on that striking performance, finishing seventh in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) and then a well-beaten third in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (G1).

Connections will walk the track Saturday morning to confirm whether Dee Ex Bee will run, but assistant trainer Charlie Johnston said existing conditions looked favorable, especially with overnight watering taking place.

"This wasn't really plan A off the back of the Grand Prix to be out so soon, but after there were only six entries on Monday and then four (declarations) yesterday, it was a bit of a no-brainer, really," he said. "We'll walk the track tomorrow morning as we're conscious we left Paris saying we weren't going to run him over a mile and a half on fast ground, as he looked like he wanted either some give in the ground or a step up to one mile, six furlongs.

"When this race presented itself, it looked too good to miss. We'll check the track and make sure we're 100% happy, because we don't want to do anything to jeopardize the St Leger (G1), which is his main target for the year."

He added: "It looks a good race for him, he won at the meeting last year, and we're hopeful he should take all the beating."

Sun Maiden, the only filly in the lineup, is an eye-catching runner for trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who has won the race five times in the past 10 years.

This will be just her fourth start, and her third of the season, following a wide-margin novice victory at Salisbury and a third-placed finish in the Ribblesdale Stakes (G2), in which Wild Illusion, Thursday's Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1) winner, finished second.

The daughter of Frankel and half sister to Midday, Sun Maiden is beautifully bred and entitled to step up on her previous form, given her lack of racecourse experience.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to her owner, Khalid Abdullah, said: "She ran really well in the Ribblesdale. She didn't quite get the run of the race—she certainly wouldn't have won, but she might have been a bit nearer. It was a very pleasing run, especially for a very lightly raced filly. She's progressed well, physically and mentally, but she's got to step up again to take on the colts."

Godolphin is represented by the progressive Cross Counter, fourth in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot before landing a handicap at the same track three weeks ago.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: "We were very pleased with Cross Counter's victory at Ascot, and he brings a progressive profile into this race. He's stepping up in class, but we feel he's capable of taking on better horses now, and this should hopefully give us a pointer for the rest of the season."

The field is completed by the James Fanshawe-trained Bombyx. He landed a novice race at Doncaster by almost four lengths a month ago and would have to improve significantly to triumph stepped up into classy company.