Relentless Clive Cox reaches for the stars

Should the quiz question ever come up as to who trained the most Group One winners at Royal Ascot in 2016 it is likely very few racing fans will provide the correct answer.While there would be plenty of guesses for the likes of John Gosden and Aidan O'Brien, it is fair to say the right answer of Clive Cox, who pocketed two of the eight top-level races at the five-day meeting, is unlikely to be at the forefront of the list for many.Those victories for My Dream Boat in the St James's Palace Stakes and Profitable in the King's Stand Stakes were the icing on the cake for the Lambourn handler in a season which also saw him train his best number of winners and smash his previous prize-money total.With all of his big guns still in training, not to mention a number of exciting new prospects, there is every chance the 52-year-old will surpass the 65 British winners he sent out last year.Cox said: "We have crossed the £1million barrier before, but numerically it was our best year and was packed full of promise. It was a phenomenal season."There is no doubting, though, that Royal Ascot is the big stage. To capture a Group One double at the Royal meeting is very special and is an achievement I'm very proud of."It is my name over the door but without the people I have working here it is all impossible, really. As a team it was a great achievement."My Dream Boat was a little bit special as he was middle-distance horse."You can get pigeon-holed as a one-trick pony with the sprinters. It gave me a lot of pleasure to succeed with a middle-distance horse at that level. I hope that has been recognised."I'd be hopeful we can strive to be as competitive at that level as we did last year."Cox believes My Dream Boat still has more to offer, especially if he can prove his effectiveness over a longer trip.He added: "I'm delighted My Dream Boat is staying in training and we are looking forward to exploring a mile and a half with him this year."We will probably go to the Gordon Richards at Sandown with him first as he won that race last year."He loves the track and a mile and a quarter first time up would be a good idea."The way he was clearly staying on in the Champion Stakes, I think there is every possibility he will get a mile and a half well."The last two years he has kept his form well in the autumn so if he gets a mile and half next autumn that would be great, especially as he beat last year's Arc winner (Found) at Royal Ascot."Profitable returns for another season following the five-year-old's acquisition by Godolphin, and hopes are high he can claim more Pattern-race glory.Cox said: "I am over the moon Godolphin have decided to keep him in training and let him stay with us."He starts the campaign without a Group One penalty, which is helpful. We have every belief at the moment that he is stronger and better than ever."We did explore the six furlongs when he was fourth in the July Cup. It's very difficult to say he didn't get the trip but he is definitely a better horse over five."He will have a pretty much identical programme. With him losing his Group One penalty it is very logical to start in the Palace Hose then follow the Temple and King's Stand route."Given the size of Zonderland, time was always going to be the making of him andwith the four-year-old son of Dutch Art now reaching his peak, Cox has great expectations. Cox added: "Zonderland has done very well over the winter but he wouldn't want conditions too soft."Hewon on top of the ground at Salisbury in the Sovereign and then was second in the Celebration Mile, and that form stacks up really well. "He came back in a little bit later as we know his prime time will be on quicker ground."I think he is top class around a mile. Physically, he has done really well again."He was always a big, scopey individual and I every belief another winter on his back will see more progress."Having taken the Royal meeting by storm last year, Cox has in Harry Angel a prospect on his hands that could see him savour more top-level glory at the big meeting in June. His trainer said: "Harry Angel is very exciting. He just looks like a real speedster. "We will be working backwards from the Commonwealth Cup. He is a horse that needs more experience, even though he is already a Group Two winner."He will be entered in the Guineas for the simple possibility that he could start in a Guineas trial. His Group Two penalty is a little bit of a burden early doors."I wouldn't be against giving him a possible start over seven if conditions were right in the spring."The Sandy Lane at Haydock is an obvious target before the Commonwealth Cup but I would like to consider options before that if conditions were available."We've had some very good ones and he would be as exciting as anything that we have had in the past."