Big race countdown, w/c: 6 July | 13 July | 20 July | 27 July | 3 August | 10 August

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Sunday 2 August 2009

The Luca Cumani-trained Seta made an impressive winning debut in the sportingbet.com EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, taking command a furlong out and going eight lengths clear of her rivals at the line.

The daughter of Pivotal is a half sister to last week's French Listed winner Armure, as well as Listed winners Affirmative Action and Gravitas, from the family of Barathea and Gossamer. She is as short as 12-1 for the 1000 Guineas.

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Saturday 1 August 2009

Runaway Sussex Stakes winner Rip Van Winkle is reported to be sore after his exertions in the Group One. The son of Galileo was for a while a doubtful starter at Goodwood after a crack in a hoof was discovered. That foot is now sore, and the colt will not be seen again until the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in September.

Godolphin's Galdiatorus will miss next Saturday's Arlington Million after sustaining a bruised foot.

Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford said: "Gladiatorus was diagnosed with a corn in his foot and therefore will miss the Arlington Million. We hope that he will recover in time to run in the Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on August 16."

Richard Hannon's Richmond Stakes winner Dick Turpin could go for a sales race. The trainer said: "He's run three times and won three - that was Group race so he's done nothing wrong at all.

"There's no reason why he won't get a mile and I think we'll sit tight with him for a month and then look to something at the back end.

"He came from the Tattersalls Ireland sales, so he could run in the sales race at Fairyhouse as that's worth a lot more money than even a Group race."

Mark Johnston could run Newmarket conditions winner Awzaan in Group One company. The trainer told PA Sport: "He'll run in either the Middle Park or the Dewhurst. I did enter him in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in case of a change of plan, but I would say it is most likely he will go to Newmarket."

Veteran stayer Caracciola is likely to run in the Sports Nippon Sho Stayers Stakes over 2m 2f in Japan at the end of the year. A run over hurdles at Cheltenham in October is the likely prep for the 12-year-old, who was fourth in the Goodwood Cup on Thursday.

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Friday 31 July 2009

King George V Stakes winner Kingsgate Native will bid for a second win in the Group One Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York next month, following his impressive comeback victory on Thursday.

Chris Richardson, managing director to owners Cheveley Park Stud, told PA Sport: "Half the challenge with this horse was getting his fitness back, and the other was getting his mind back on the job in hand following the disappointment of his stud career.

"He certainly looks to be bouncing back to his best now, so hopefully the Nunthorpe at York will be on the cards for him in three weeks' time."

Main Aim faded to last in the Betfair Cup on Tuesday is to have a short break before returning in the Haydock Sprint Stakes in September.

Urban Sea was a fine third behind Harbinger in the Gordon Stakes, leaving a pleasant problem for trainer Mark Johnston, who said: "It was a great run and he came back absolutely fine. He's certainly very green and we hadn't had him long since his transfer from Godolphin.

"I'll have to talk to the owner - we didn't have any great plans for the horse as we didn't know how good he was."

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Thursday 30 July 2009

Richard Hannon is looking forward to training J J The Jet Plane, who is a new addition to his yard after the owner fell out with the sprinter's former trainer Mike de Kock.

"We expect J J The Jet Plane here next week, and we are all looking forward to him coming," Hannon told his official website. "He was a dual Group One winner in South Africa, and he showed that he was a top-flight horse in Britain too when finishing third in the July Cup at Newmarket. He is entered in the Haydock Sprint Cup, and that looks an ideal race for him."

Rip Van Winkle was hugely impressive in the Sussex Stakes, and looks liekly to be kept to a mile. Aidan O'Brien said: "We wanted to give everyone a chance, and to give the horse a chance to show everyone what he shows us at home. He had had so many problems this year, but had such a good run up to this race until last night.

"He has always had so much speed. It's all class with this horse, and all cruise and speed. We've never had a horse with that much class.

"The plan was to go to the Juddmonte International with Mastercraftsman and the Irish Champion with Fame And Glory. This horse was to go back to a mile. The Moulin and QEII are obvious races for him."

The Markel International Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday was won by the Michael Jarvis-trained Beyond Desire, who pulled a length and a quarter clear of Nimue, with the pair well clear of their rivals. The Invincible Spirit filly received a 33-1 quote for the 1000 Guineas, and and looks set to run in the Lowther Stakes at York next.

Marcus Tregoning is pondering a French raid for Lennox Stakes winner Finjaan He told PA Sport: "He's taken it very well, so we're very pleased with him and let's hope he continues in the right vein. Luckily enough there are a few races for him later on in the season.

"We'll see about the Hungerford Stakes. It's a possibility for him as his next race and maybe we might even go to France after that. Something like the Foret is a possibility. We have a few ideas and a plan of some sort, but we'll just have to see how he goes."

Richard Hughes reckons the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes is an appropriate target for juvenile star Monsieur Chevalier. The Molecomb winner would have to be supplemented for the race at a cost of £20,000, but the jockey explained his reasoning on richardhannonracing.tv: "Being a two-year-old, Monsieur Chevalier would have only 8st 1lb at York, and I'd have to cut a leg off to do that weight, but I honestly think that the Nunthorpe is the perfect race for him.

"The alternative would be to run him in the Gimcrack, but that is a Group Two, whereas the Nunthorpe is a Group One and worth £100,000 more.

"I realise that it is expensive to supplement, but Monsieur Chevalier has already earned more than £173,000, so surely it is a gamble worth taking.

"If we wait for the Middle Park we are likely to come up against another smart two-year-old, and our chance of a Group One might have gone.

"The sprinting division is not that hot, and at York he would be getting 22lb from the three-year-olds and another couple of pounds from the older horses.

"Sure, we might have to take on Brian Meehan's Norfolk Stakes winner Radiohead at levels, but you can forget our fellow's run there.

"I got sucked into a duel with the American horse and was beaten when we got that bad bump.

"Radiohead beat us fair and square, but, ridden differently, Monsieur Chevalier is capable of reversing the form."

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Wednesday 29 July 2009

Aidan O'Brien's Sussex Stakes runner Rip Van Winkle had a late scare on Tuesday when a problem with the colt's hind hoof was discovered.

However, the son of Galileo has left for Sussex with the intention of running. O'Brien told www.racingpost.com: "The horse seems much better this morning, he left Ballydoyle at 5am with the intention of running.

"We will reassess the situation when we get to the course when a final decision will be made."

Finjaan gave Marcus Tregoning welcome relief, winning the Betfair Cup yesterday, and the trainer said: "The Hungerford would be a possibility next if he comes out of this race well and I am keen to go down the sprinting route with him.

"His temperament is getting better as he gets older and I think he could make a lovely older horse and next year maybe he can be champion sprinter."

Harbinger won the Gordon Stakes, but Sir Michael Stoute cautioned that the son of Dansili is not a definite for the St Leger: "He's not an elaborate home worker and that makes it very difficult to get an edge on him. He's lazy at home but he's a lovely horse. I loved the way he travelled, he's got some class.

"I don't know about the Leger, when you look at his pedigree it doesn't scream Leger horse. Let's go to the Voltigeur and then we'll see. There are 30 odd owners (of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing) who I'll have to talk to about it."

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Tuesday 28 July 2009

Dermot Weld won his third consecutive Carlton.ie/galwaycity (QR) Handicap at Galway on Monday evening courtesy of top weight Ghimaar, who strode clear for an emphatic win. Weld nominated the Ebor Handicap, for which the son of Dubai Destination would have to be supplemented, as a possible target.

Weld was also on the mark with Stunning View, who won the radissonhotelglaway.com (C&G) European Breeders Fund Maiden in some style. The son of Shamardal is as low as 25-1 for the 2000 Guineas after his three length success.

Weld said: "He did it as we expected and thought he would do it. He's a very nice colt and we've a lot to look forward to and we won't be rushing him.

"It was very good maiden he ran in at the Curragh first time. We have him entered in the Goffs Million and the National Stakes."

Freddie Head is pleased with his recent Falmouth Stakes winner Goldikova ahead of her engagement in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville on Sunday.

"She's been very well since Newmarket and all being well she will run this Sunday in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville," Head told PA Sport. "We were very happy with her at Newmarket and as that was only her second run of the year I think she could improve.

"We'll see after Sunday but if all goes well the Prix Jacques le Marois would be a target. We'll see about going back to America if everything is good, we just have to take each run as it comes and keep our fingers crossed."

John Ryan is to give Superlative Stakes winner Silver Grecian a break before being prepared for the Group Two DFS Champagne Stakes at the St Leger meeting at Doncaster.

Ryan said: "We have got him in the Champagne Stakes and we are also looking at running in the Dewhurst at the end of the season. We then want to head to the 2000 Guineas next year.

"He won't go anywhere before Doncaster. We're just giving him a bit of a break to strengthen up a bit. He had three quick runs and he just needs a bit of time and a chance to grow now."

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Monday 27 July 2009

Richard Hannon is expecting a big run from recent Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Monsieur Chevalier in the Betfair Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.

The trainer told richardhannonracing.tv: "It's amazing to think that it was 1993 when Walter Swinburn won the race for us on Risky, so maybe we are due another win.

"Monsieur Chevalier was very impressive in the Super Sprint, and, though Goodwood is a much easier five furlongs, they often go off very fast and the leaders come back.

"Hughesie will ride his normal race from behind and hope that the colt picks up like he did at Newbury, and this does not look the strongest renewal of the race, so, with Chevalier seemingly still thriving, he goes there with a big chance."

Clive Brittain is set to step Listed Winkfield Stakes winner Nideeb up to Pattern company in the Royal Lodge Stakes, telling PA Sport: "I'm very pleased with him as he's a tough horse and a progressive horse and we think we're only half way there with him at the moment.

"I've always thought he was smart. He's got a lovely ground-eating action which he has shown all along. Funnily enough he didn't make his reserve at the sales because he wasn't a good walker but walking is not his game now!

"I would say we'll now get him ready for the Royal Lodge and that will probably be his next race.

"The way he battled on after looking beaten suggests he will get the mile and I think in another stride or two he'd have gone further ahead."

Alfred Nobel is as short as 10-1 for the 2000 Guineas after quickening through the mud to win the Group One Phoenix Stakes yesterday.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He was very green on his first couple of runs, but he's just one of those horses that can really change gears. The last day he won very snug, but Johnny said he just got there too early on him so today he was going to wait and wait.

"The worry was whether he could change gears on that heavy ground, but obviously he's a very good horse. He gets lonely out in front and it was that greenness that resulted in him being beaten on his first two starts.

"He has progressed well and may next run in the Prix Morny in a few weeks' time, then there is the National Stakes. He's a proper horse."

Jim Bolger won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden with Sagacious, a half-sister to Youmzain and Creachadoir. Bolger said: "Sagacious has possibly done enough racing this year. I see her as a mile-and-a-half filly for next year."

Alwaary was a fine fourth behind Sir Michael Stoute's trio in the King George, but is unlikely to run in the Ladbrokes St Leger.

Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, told PA Sport: "He ran a fabulous race and we're delighted with him. He keeps progressing, and he was beaten by three top-class horses on the day.

"He was running on at the end and he's finished just over two lengths ahead of the horse that was second in the Irish Derby (Golden Sword) so it shows that he's right up there with the best of the three-year-old colts.

"I'm sure he'll continue to progress, both physically and mentally, and hopefully he is a very nice horse next year. Going forward, the Great Voltigeur at York is an obvious race but let's just see how he comes out of Ascot first.

"We don't want to be too hard on him this year as hopefully we'll have him for the long run. I very much doubt Sheikh Hamdan will want the horse to run in the St Leger. I think now he's proving himself as a potentially top-class mile-and-a-half-horse, and I'm sure we'll stick to that."