Big race countdown, w/c: 8 June | 22 June | 29 June | 6 July | 13 July | 20 July

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Saturday 11 July 2009

Trainer Freddie Head has revealed that a virus has affected his yard in the early part of this season. The trainer told the Racing Post: "Yes I have had a virus like a lot of other people in Chantilly.

"It's been everywhere. Some people have been hit worse than others but last year I won my first Group One in the July Cup so I'm already ahead of that.

"Naaqoos has been affected. That's why he didn't run in the Prix Jean Prat last Sunday.

"He's in the Sussex Stakes but we won't go for that. I'm considering the Maurice de Gheest and Jacques Le Marois for him but I've got no preference yet."

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Friday 10 July 2009

The Mark Johnston-trained Awzaan routed his rivals in the European Breeders' Fund Conditions Stakes at Newmarket yesterday, winning by five lengths. Johnston said of the son of Alhaarth: "We've thought he was a nice horse for a long time but we waited with him because he is by Alhaarth.

"At home he was going so well we decided to have a go and we were going to step up to seven furlongs, except this race provided an opportunity for Sheikh Hamdan to see him running. The first thing that comes into my head is the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood."

Godolphin have found their stride with six winners and four placed horses from 14 runners in the last week, and Kite Wood looks a viable St Leger candidate after his impressive Bahrain Trophy win. He will take in either the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York or the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury en route to Town Moor.

The second horse Tactic is likely to head for the Great Voltigeur, as will the third horse Above Average.

Arcano looked the business winning the July Stakes, and Brian Meehan is considering the Prix Morny for the son of Oasis Dream. Of the second horse Orpen Grey Tom Dascombe said: "He'll go straight to Ireland now for the Tattersalls Million and I might bring him back for the Middle Park." Third placed Red Jazz meanwhile heads to the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.

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Thursday 9 July 2009

Godolphin have yet to make plans for their new recruit Jealous Again. Racing manager Simon Crisford told At The Races he was pleased to see Queen Mary Stakes form upheld by Misheer in yesterday's Cherry Hinton, saying: "We were delighted with the result on Wednesday. The filly is not in our stable at the moment and we are not sure when she is likely to arrive.

"She will be really interesting but I can't tell you where you are likely to see her because I don't know - but she is obviously very interesting."

Crisford also revealed that Rio De La Plata is almost ready to make a comeback: "He is back in full work now after a respiratory problem. He will be back in the second half of the season and is a very exciting horse to look forward to." Rio De La Plata is entered in the Juddmonte International at York in August.

Gladiatorus has to prove himslef after flopping in the Queen Anne, with Crisfrod saying: "He was disappointing at Ascot, we were expecting him to run better than that. He is back in proper work now and worked nicely on Wednesday, and will be aimed at the Sussex Stakes. He's got a bit to prove now."

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Wednesday 8 July 2009

Michael Jarvis is looking forward to running Alazeyab in Saturday's 50th running of the John Smith’s Cup at York.

The three-year-old colt, who was among 44 acceptors at the five-day stage, certainly shaped like a horse on the upgrade when landing a Class 2 handicap at Newmarket on June 27. And Alazeyab is a general 12/1 chance for success in the £150,000 contest, staged over 1m 2f.

Jarvis said: “We were thrilled with his Newmarket win, having – we thought – run a little bit below par at Newbury on his previous start. He has a 5lb penalty for that victory and that gets him a place in the line-up at York. The trip and the course should suit him very well. But he would not run if the ground was to come up soft.”

Another interesting contender likely to get in off a low weight is Seeking The Buck. Trainer Ralph Beckett’s charge is as short as 10/1 in the betting. He recorded back-to-back victories in the spring before finishing second at Lingfield on his last start.

Beckett said: “Things didn’t go to plan at Lingfield, but he came out of the race fine and is very well. York will suit him, I hope the ground stays quick and that he gets a good draw.”

The two 6/1 joint-favourites are Riggins, successful at Goodwood last month, and Zetland Gold Cup winner Kingdom Of Fife, while Yorkshire-based trainer Richard Fahey is going for the first-ever hat-trick following the victories of Charlie Tokyo (2007) and Flying Clarets (2008). Fahey’s leading chance appears to be 12/1 chance Albaqaa but he also left in five others on Monday.

JohnOxx hopes to have plans in place for Sea The Stars in the next few days. The trainer sold PA Sport: "It's all in the mix. We haven't had the conversation yet about plans for the rest of the year. Within a few days we'll have got the answers to that.

"He's come out of the race the same as usual. He's fresh and well, he's picking up well each day and behaving like he normally does after a race in terms of his weight gain, his appetite and all that - no problems at all."

Clive Brittain is to run dual Listed winner Nashmiah in the Listed toteplacepot City Plate over seven furlongs at Chester on Saturday, in preferecne to the Group One Irish Oaks.

"She runs in the Listed race at Chester as we just want to give her a bit of a confidence boost," Brittain said. "She has a lot of speed so I wouldn't be worried about dropping back to seven furlongs. You never really worry about stepping back in trip to a couple of furlongs below their best if you have a good horse.

"It would have been a call to go to Ireland to see if she stays a mile and a half, and you've just got to keep in mind that there are some good races just around the corner now if you want to go back to Group company."

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Tuesday 7 July 2009

Eclipse second Rip Van Winkle is to drop back to a mile in the Sussex Stakes, Aidan O'Brien has confirmed. The solt was fourth in the 2000 Guineas over the trip.

Paco Boy has been entered in Saturday's Summer Mile at Ascot. The colt looks increasingly likely to miss both the Ascot Group Two and the July Cup due to firm ground, with trainer Richard Hannon telling his website: "Paco Boy is still in the July Cup, but the forecast is for only showers at Newmarket and it sounds like being a similar story at Ascot, and he won't be going anywhere until the ground eases.

"In all probability, his next two races will be in France, the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs and then back there for the Prix Jacques le Marois. We can fly there from our gallops, so travelling is not a problem."

Famous Name, winner of the Listed Woodies D.I.Y. Celebration Stakes at the Curragh on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby weekend, returns to the Co Kildare venue on Saturday when he lines up in the Group Three Keeneland International Stakes. The Dermot Weld-trained four-year-old is one of 14 entries for the nine furlong contest which has also attracted one British-trained challenger in Staying On.

Aidan O’Brien, who won this event 12 months ago with Plan, is responsible for five of the 14 entries and can choose between Chief Lone Eagle, Drumbeat, Hail Caesar, Red Rock Canyon and Rockhampton. Local trainer Kevin Prendergast is also well represented with Celtic Dane, Molqan and Recharge, which finished fifth behind Fame And Glory in the Irish Derby.

The Group Three Keeneland Minstrel Stakes has attracted an entry of 19, including two from Britain in the Michael Bell-trained Redford and Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Al Qasi. Jumbajukiba, which chased home Famous Fame in the above mentioned Listed race over Irish Derby weekend, heads the home team. Aidan O’Brien has Chief Lone Eagle, Georgebernardshaw, Gluteus Maximus, Heart Shaped and Windsor Palace to choose from, while Dermot Weld has entered three in Firey Red, Luminous Eyes and Mad About You.

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Monday 6 July 2009

The Henry Cecil-trained Midday will be supplemented for next Sunday's Irish Oaks, where she will attempt to get the better of her Epsom victrix Sariska.

Sea The Stars looks likely to stick to ten furlongs after John Oxx indiacted on Sunday that the Juddmonet International at York is a more likely target for the colt than the King George over a mile and a half at Ascot, with the latter race coming too soon for the three-time Group One winner.

Lord Shanakill gave trainer Karl Burke his first Group One win when landing the Prix Jean Prat on Sunday, and the Speightstown colt will now be sent to either the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville or the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Eclipse third Conduit looks set to step back up in trip in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot later this month. Connectios reckon a mile and a half is the optimum distance for the four-year-old.

Lancashire Oaks winner Barshiba could bid for an Oaks double, as David Elsworth reckons the Yorkshire Oks is a realistic target.

The trainer told PA Sport: "She did it very well and I wasn't surprised as some of her form was very good. She was only beaten seven lengths by the colts in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot the time before, but I suppose everyone was looking at the three-year-old fillies that were coming through.

"We'll look at the Yorkshire Oaks and I suppose the Oaks winner could also turn up there. There is a hefty weight-for-age still and we have to give those three-year-olds a lot of weight so it won't be easy. She took a while to come to herself in the spring so hopefully she can retain the good form she is in now."

Leading juvenile Canford Cliffs is likely to run in the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte on July 26th. Trainer Richard Hannon told his website: "The Papin is over five and a half furlongs, but I don't think anybody would dispute the claim that he would have won at any distance at Royal Ascot, and he has come out of the race with no ill-effects.

"We will have a good look at the race before making a final decision, but the timing looks right and we would then consider crossing the channel again for the Prix Morny at Deauville on August 23."