Jockey Ray Dawson believes the progressive Saddadd heads into Saturday’s Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes (2000m) at Sandown in great shape.

The Roger Varian-trained four-year-old rounded out his three-year-old season by finishing third in the Listed Foundation Stakes (2000m) before returning to action with a comfortable success in the Group 3 Gordon Richard Stakes (2000m).

Stepped up to Group 1 level for the first time, the son of Pinatubo produced a career-best performance to chase home Almaqam and subsequent Group 1 Coronation Cup (2400m) scorer Bay City Roller when third in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup (2100m), finishing off strongly from the rear of the field in the hands of regular rider Ray Dawson.

“We didn’t know what to expect from the race in Ireland, but we learnt a lot about the horse that day,” said Dawson when speaking to the Nick Luck Daily Podcast.

“We didn’t win but they went very hard and he stayed very well. He was probably the best finisher inside the final furlong.

“I think it was probably his best performance to date, even though we got beat but we learnt that he stays that trip very well.

“We were very pleased with his run and obviously, Bay City Roller came out and won a Group 1 next time out, so the form has definitely held up.

“The plan at the Curragh was to jump and be handy but the way the race panned out – they went so quickly – I had to just settle where he relaxed.”

The Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum-owned colt is closely related to Ed Walker’s Group 1 winner Almaqam, and Ray Dawson feels his uncomplicated nature should only help him tactically this weekend.

He added: “He’s a very straightforward horse and you can ride him from wherever he feels comfortable, whether that’s near the front, mid-division or near the rear.

“We’re very happy with him going into the race. He’s half asleep most of the time and he’s a very easy horse to ride as a jockey, for a top-class horse, he’s a pleasure to ride. He’s got a great temperament.”

Photo: Healy Racing