Big race countdown for 7 July 2008

Filed on 7 Jul 2008 @ 15:14

Sunday 13 July 2008

Connections of July Cup third War Artist are to decide this week on future plans. The options are to have an autumn campaign in Europe leading to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, or to wait until the Global Sprint Challenge.

Trainer James Eustace told PA Sport: "The two ways of going are Europe, and possibly the new Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, or maybe one more run here and then go for some of the Global Sprint Challenge races.

"We had thought of going for the second of two races in Japan (Sprinters Stakes) in October and then go to Australia for theirs (Age Classic).

"However, I spoke to a representative from the Victoria Racing Club and he told me that Japan and Australia have issues over equine influenza and they might not let horses into Australia direct from Japan. That would put the mockers on that plan.

"The alternative would be to give him one more run over here, maybe in the Nunthorpe say, then go for the Australia race in November and Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint) in December. There are several permutations."

Brian Meehan was delighted with Red Rocks' win in the Grade One Man O'War Stakes at Belmont, where he beat turf debutant Curlin. "Everything is always easy with him," said Meehan. "He hasn't been given the kudos he deserves since the Breeders' Cup. He confirmed he is one of the best middle-distance turf horses in the world and has been for the last two or three years."

Curlin is likely to have another start on turf before a final decision on his participation in the Arc de Triomphe. Owner Jess Jackson said: "It was a great race for the fans and this is part of what we are trying to do. We just didn't see that late kick from him.

"I don't know if that was because he is still getting used to the turf or what. My feeling right now is that he needs another turf test. We know what he can do on dirt, and that is always an option.

"I'm disappointed, but this is not a setback. And the horse that beat him is a very good horse, and I congratulate them on a great race."

Mike de Kock's Archipenko could be heading across the Atlantic for the Arlington Million, but the Sussex Stakes remains an option.

Jane Chapple-Hyam has 520,000 guineas purchase Yellowstone back in top form, and the Listed Silver Cup winner could head back to the Knavesmire for the Ebor. Chapple-Hyam said: "I've had it in the back of my mind that one mile and six was his trip. He's in the Irish St Leger, I'll put him in the Melbourne Cup and he's also in the Ebor. But I wouldn't mind coming back here again after winning it with Mudawin!"

Comdeian Mel Smith looks to have a useful juvenile in the Eve Johnson-Houghton The Cheka, who won an Ascot novice stakes by ten lengths. The Dewhurst is a more likely autumn target than the Tattersalls Million.

Saturday 12 July 2008

Godolphin are hopeful of a big run from Rio De La Plata in tomorrow's Group One Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "Rio De La Plata has been working well and is in good form. I was pleased with his run in the Vodafone Derby but the return to his best trip of a mile will suit him.

"He's ready to go and has the class to win a race like this despite the tough opposition."

Simon Crisford also told www.godolphin.com: "I think Rio De La Plata will run a good race. He ran really well in the Vodafone Derby over a trip that was too far for him and his run in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains was very good from a bad draw. He will get his ground in France and he's in good order and should be there or thereabouts."

July Cup winner Marchand d'Or is to return to France to attempt to win a third consecutive Prix Maurice de Gheest next month. Freddie Head said: "He will now go and run in the race he has won twice - the Prix Maurice de Gheest and after that he may come back to Haydock and have his revenge there after finishing runner-up [to Red Clubs]last year! He has won over seven furlongs and five furlongs on all types of ground so is very versatile."

Tom Dascombe's Superlative Stakes winner Firth Of Fifth is to head to the Champagne Stakes at Goodwood.

Cheveley Park Stud's Falmouth Stakes second Infallible is to be dropped in trip. Manager Chris Richardson told PA Sport: "We're not quite sure where we go next with her, but we are looking to other options now as regards trip. The Lennox Stakes at Goodwood might be an option but obviously we'll see how she is.

"That's not too far away. We'll just let her get over that and see if John feels if she's going to be ready to comeback as quickly as that or whether we wait a bit longer. Certainly, we are going to look at the options over six and seven furlongs."

Henry Candy reports his speedster Corrybrough, a recent Sandown Listed winner, to be on course to make his Group debut in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury next weekend.

Thursday 10 July 2008

St Leger winner Lucarno was the star at Newmarket on Thursday, winning the Group Two Princess of Wales's Stakes under a fine front-running ride from Jimmy Fortune.

Trainer John Gosden said afterwards: "I'm very pleased and it was a good effort carrying a Group One penalty. He did very well physically through the winter and is a big bull of a horse. but is starting to come to himself now.

"I left him in the King George yesterday and we will consider that. Longer term, I wouldn't be afraid of an Arc or something like that. There are plenty of races for him in the autumn and he could even go out to Japan in November."

Papal Bull ran on well for second, and is reported to be on course for a crack at the King George.

Peter Chapple-Hyam's Winker Watson worked under Jamie Spencer this morning ahead of his run in the Group One Prix Jean Prat on Sunday. A delighted Chapple-Hyam said: "Jamie's exact words were 'those Guineas horses better watch out!'

"I'm delighted with him and he's entitled to be ring-rusty as it's a year to the day since he last ran. He was my best two-year-old last year and my best horse this year. Jamie will ride him and that was a good piece of work. He definitely runs on Sunday."

Freddie Head is expecting an improved effort from Marchand d'Or in the July Cup tomorrow. The soft ground specialist is 3-1 favourite for the race after yesterday's rain.

"I was very pleased to see the rain at Newmarket on Wednesday," Head told PA Sport. "The Golden Jubilee was a very funny race. He was very keen early on and then he got bumped. Sakhee's Secret got very badly hampered and he touched my horse. He's a bit funny now in his old age and he doesn't like that.

"He went back to last almost but then at the end he was running on again, I don't think he ran his race. It was a funny race, the first five home were drawn one to five and he was sixth.

"He ran very well in this race last year and I think he is a better horse this year. His run in the Prix du Gros-Chene was top-class form. He was giving weight away and beat the winner of the King's Stand. If he is in similar form on Friday he should go very close."

Purple Moon has an international autumn campaign planned. Owner Craig Bennet told At The Races: "He had a bit of a setback but we'd always planned a late campaign. It might be a blessing because we'll end up with a fresher horse in the autumn.

"I think we'll be looking at all the big races abroad with him and the ground is important to him too. Races like the Canadian International, the Hong Kong Vase and possibly even the Dubai Carnival are where we are looking.

"I would hope to see him out in mid to late August or early September. It depends what the ground is like but the Geoffrey Freer or the Cumberland Lodge are possible races depending on when he is ready."

Wednesday 9 July 2008

John Oxx is expecting a bog run from Oaks third Katiyra in Sunday's Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh. The filly has been rested since Epsom and the trainer hopes the extra time will give her an edge.

"We've had no complaints with her since Epsom, thankfully everything has gone to plan," Oxx told PA Sport. "We decided to give her a break just to give her a bit more time to strengthen up and she seems very well in herself.

"She didn't handle Tattenham Corner last time but when she got herself sorted she ran on well and, for a horse that got beat, we were as happy as we could be. The winnerlooks very good, the form is standing up very well, both the winners of the Ribblesdale and the Coronation have come out of it.

"Even her first run of the season in the Guineas Trial is holding up well. This is the time of year that fillies come to themselves so we hope that she can show us we did the right thing by giving her a bit of time off."

Khalid Abdulla is looking for a third win in a row in Monday's Juddmonte-sponsored Grand Prix de Paris and relies on Doctor Fremantle to follow Rail Link and Zambezi Sun with victory in Longchamp's Bastille Day showpiece.

Abdulla's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said on Tuesday: "We will be trying to retain the race to complete a hat trick of wins. The horse came out well from the Derby and worked well yesterday morning."

Irish Derby fifth Curtain Call is likely to oppose, as is easy Group Three winner Montmartre. Alain de Royer-Dupre told the Racing Post: "He will do his last piece of work tomorrow morning and as long as he comes out of it well he will line up in the race on Monday. This has always been his big objective and he is proven on all going."

Tuesday 8 July 2008

The Group Two Summer Mile at Ascot sees last year's winner Cesare line up against Hong Kong Group One winner Archipenko and Godolphin's returning stable star Ramonti.

Cesare has seen four of his nine wins come at the Berkshire track, where he was a fast finishing fourth to Haradasun in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes last month.

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "Ramonti is an intended runner and we also plan to run Elusive Warning as well. Several weeks before the Dubai World Cup he suffered a hind leg infection and it took longer than anticipated to clear up.

"He is ready to start back in a race now but he will definitely improve for the run. The key with him is to get him back on the track. He has been inactive for quite some time but we have been very pleased with him in his build-up to this."

Crisford also confirmed that Rio De La Plata is on target for Sunday's Prix Jean Prat.

Monday 7 July 2008

Wednesday's Group One Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket sees Finsceal Beo and Darjina lock horns once more - most recently the pair filled the places behind Haradasun in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. Darjina was the better that day, but her trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre is hoping for dry weather. He told At The Races: "The ground is very important for her, we need to have good ground and good to firm is the best. If they get too much rain that will be a problem. It's a big field but that's OK."

Paul Cole's speedy Kheleyf filly Percolator broke the Maisons-Laffite track record in the Prix du Bois on Sunday and could aim to become the second successive juvenile winner of the Nunthorpe Stakes.

Cole told At The Races: "It's a wonderful thing to have plenty of options and she's as tough as old boots. She is very, very fast, otherwise she wouldn't have been breaking track records. She's a very good filly, incredibly fast and tough.

"The Robert Papin is an option and the Nunthorpe would suit her with a straight track and maybe the fast ground, so that's something we'll think about in the next few weeks."

Skybet have advertised odds of just 1-4 that Aidan O'Brien will exceed his 2001 record of 23 Group or Grade One victories in a year.

In 2001 the Ballydyle handler had seven winners at this stage of the season against 12 so far this year. Last year he trained eight individual horses to win 15 Group One races.

Filed on 7 Jul 2008 @ 15:14

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