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Classic countdown for 14 April 2008Filed on 14 Apr 2008 @ 10:47
Major race entries 2008: 2000 Guineas | 1000 Guineas | Derby | Oaks | Coronation Cup Classic countdown, w/c: 7 April | 14 April | 21 April | 28 April | 5 May | 12 May | 19 May | 26 May Saturday 19 April 2008Godolphin have added to their Classic armoury with the recruitment of two recent trail winners in Il Warrd and Campanologist. "Il Warrd and Campanologist have both transferred to Godolphin," read a statement on the Godolphin website. "Il Warrd was the impressive winner of the Easter Stakes at Kempton Park last weekend and is currently under consideration for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains on May 11 at Longchamp. "Campanologist won the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket and is now being prepared for a possible Derby Trial." Peter Chapple-Hyam's Cape Amber is likely to bypass the 1000 Guineas in favour of an Oaks campaign. The trainer said on Friday: “We will probably look at the Musidora for her.” The John Dunlop-trained Muthabara justified her substantial support for the 1000 Guineas in the Group Three Fred Darling Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury on Saturday, flying home from an unpromising position to win well. As jockey Richard Hills said after the race, the last furlong was her best furlong, and she will have no problem seeing out a mile or even further. Of the main protagonists for the 1000 Guineas seen this week, Muthabara looked by far the most backward, and a substantial improvement on this form could be on the cards. Most firmas have made Muthabara favourite or joint favourite (with Infallible) at around the 7-2 mark. The Group Three Greenham Stakes saw the favourite Confront fail to quicken as Richard Hannon's Paco Boy won well - but the Desert Style colt does not hold a Guineas entry. Conenctions are considering paying the supplementary entry for the Newmarket Classic, for which Paco Boy has been made a 20-1 chance. Thursday 17 April 2008Henry Cecil's Twice Over outstayed John Gosden's Raven's Pass to win the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday, though the trainer warns the 2000 Guineas is not a definite target for the Observatory colt: "He was ready for a race, but obviously he will improve a lot. We are not certain he is a Guineas horse, though, and I don't want to push him if it is not the right race for him, we'll see. "We need to see how he progresses. He did everything right as he has only had nice work and he was ready for a race, he should improve. Whether he outstayed the other horse I'm not sure but it was certainly a nice performance because he is only a baby really. I don't want to say he is going for the Guineas, though, we'll have to see." Gosden was full of praise for the runner-up, saying: "That was a good trial as he wasn't fully wound up and the big day is two and a half weeks away. Jimmy only gave him one tap and I was very happy with him. "I made it clear that he wasn't wound up for today and he pulled hard in the middle of the race and then got tired in the final furlong. He certainly gets the mile though and I think you will find that is a pretty smart Craven with good, solid form. They were a long way clear and there was some smart types in behind." Luca Cumani is likely to run Curtain Call in the 10-furlong Blue Riband Trial Stakes, which is this year being staged at Nottingham on Wednesday, April 23. Patrick Cooper, syndicate manager for Curtain Call’s owners, said today: "We don’t know if Curtain Call will go to Nottingham yet for the Blue Riband Trial Stakes as the ground was very bad there last week. If it’s like that, he probably won’t go but Luca will make his mind up closer to the time. "The plan is to run at Nottingham and then Lingfield before the Vodafone Derby, all being well. If that doesn’t work, for ground reasons, he will just have the one start before Epsom. "He has settled in well at Luca’s and is in good form. I haven’t seen him since February but he looked fantastic then and he has wintered very well. "He worked last week at Newmarket. I’m told that he did a very nice piece of work with two older horses. Jamie (Spencer) rode him and he seemed very happy with him. At the moment, I think that Jamie will be riding him on the track." Read the full story for analysis of entries in all the major Derby trials. Greenham Stakes runners Group Three, seven furlongs. Newbury 4:00pm Saturday.
Fred Darling Stakes runners Group Three, seven furlongs. Newbury, 3:25pm Saturday.
. Last year's Group One Prix Morny winner Myboycharlie will miss the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, in favour of a return to action in the Group Three Tetrarch Stakes on 5 May. Trainer Tommy Stack's son and assistant Fozzy Stack, told the Racing Post: "Myboycharlie will start off in the Tetrarch and how he gets on in that race will help decide whether he goes for the Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas or goes sprinting." Wednesday 16 April 2008Cheveley Park Stud's homebred Pivotal filly Infallible leapt to the head of the 1000 Guineas market following an impressive three and a half length win in the Group Three Leslie Harrison Memorial Nell Gwyn Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket. Yet another black-type success for her sire, Infallible was slowly away and raced towards the rear of the 14 runners under Jimmy Fortune, looking a bit keen before being asked to quiken approaching the dip. She moved to the leaders effortlessly on the bridle and went away in the final fulong to win with ease from 66-1 shot Kylayne. Festivale was third. Winning trainer John Gosden said: "She's a fine filly but she'll have to be damn good to beat Natagora, who won a little race here called the Cheveley Park. Our horse is not that experienced after just two runs and Natagora has to be the one to beat at the moment." Trainer Hughie Morrison had thought that Stimulation could be a 2000 Guineas colt, and he will run in the Classic after winning a tense Listed Making Better Betting European Free Handicap over seven furlongs at Newmarket on Wednesday. Peter Chapple-Hyam's Listed winner Fat Boy, led under Frankie Dettori, but Stimulation came with a strong run in the final furlong to get up by a nose on the line. Royal Confidence had also challenged in the final furlong for the Hills team, and went down by a neck in third. The Michael Jarvis-trained Bold Choice was an easy odds-on winner of the wildgooseconstruction.co.uk Maiden Stakes at Nottingham on Tuesday, winning hard held by two and a half lengths. The colt is entered in the Italian Derby and could take up that engagement. Leading 1000 Guineas chance Sense Of Joy is out of the race with soft tissue damage that is serious enough to keep her out of the race. Mark Johnston's Campanologist won the Listed Tuddenham Mill Feilden Stakes, seeing off the challenge of Kandahar Run to give his trainer his third win in the race in the last five years. Johnston said after the race: "He has earned a shot at a Group race again. He will go for one of the Classic trials now, with Lingfield, Sandown or the Dante possibles." Cecil said of Kandahar Run: "They went slow early on and he was fresh, we wanted to settle him and when he came to win he got very tired. "He will come on for the run and we will see what we are going to do, but I don't want to go much more than a mile and a quarter at the moment." Campanologist is out of an unraced daughter of the top class Glorious Song, herself the dam of Singspiel, Rahy and Rakeen. Tuesday 15 April 2008Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Nownownow, who improved markedly when switched to turf, has moved from Patrick Biancone's barn in the States to be trained by David Wachman in Ireland. The Whywhywhy colt will make his first start in Europe in the 2000 Guineas. Wachman told PA Sport: "The plan is to go to the Guineas at the moment. The ground over here is so bad we have not given him a race. He seems a very nice horse and it's a pleasure to have him in the stable." The Andre Fabre-trained Proviso (Dansili) is to make her seasonal reappearance in the Group Three Prix Vanteaux at Longchamp on Prix Ganay day, April 27. "Proviso is in great nick and coming along really well. Andre is pleased with her, I spoke to him this morning and she is really coming to herself," Teddy Grimthorpe old At The Races. "I would say she'll go to the Prix Vanteaux and then we'd make a decision on her. Her main aim is the Prix de Diane and how she gets there will be up to Andre, but there looks to be some really high-class fillies, especially in France, this year. But I'm looking forward to Proviso most of all, I must admit." Connections have decided to run Raven's Pass in the Group Three banshahousestables.com Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday, where the ground is likely to be quicker than at Newbury on Saturday. Henry Cecil's unbeaten Twice Over is amongst the 12 declared, as are City Leader and River Proud. The sole Group One winner in the field is Richard Hannon's Scintillo. Twice Over has been well supported for the Derby over the winter, and owner Khalid Abdulla's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe tod At The Races: "He's going to run in the Craven, he's in good form and he has pleased Henry. Everything he's done on the gallops has been straightforward and he's shown himself to be in good nick." Craven Stakes entriesGroup Three, one mile, 3:45 pm Newmarket Thursday 17 April 2008.
. Aidan O'Brien is to unleash a Fusaichi Pegasus half brother to Hawk Wing in the Wood Ditton Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday. Zulu Chief is bypassing the Craven Stakes in favour of the maiden. O'Brien said: "We think he is a nice horse and he is ready to go to a maiden on Thursday." The trainer added: "Poet is in the Listed Feilden Stakes race on Wednesday and The Bogberry could run in the Craven. Psalm is not a definite runner in the Leslie Harrison Memorial Nell Gwyn Stakes on Wednesday." John Dunlop says that 1000 Guineas co-favourite Muthabara is looking well at home. The Arundel trainer told At The Races: "She's very well. I think the reason she is Guineas favourite is that she worked very well at Goodwood a fortnight ago when Richard Hills rode her and he was impressed by her. "He hadn't ridden her since last July but he was impressed by the way she went and she has done everything right since. She is still quite wintry in her coat, but otherwise she has done everything right. I was satisfied with the way she worked. I saw Natagora win and I hope she stays over in France!" Mick Channon has warned that Lowther Stakes winner Nahoodh has not yet come in her coat. The trainer said: "Nahoodh is still hairy and it is taking her a long time to lose her coat. She has so much scope though, and I have her entered in the Fred Darling. I am not sure what the weather is going to do but I am very keen to run her at Newbury this weekend. "Nijoom Dubai won the Albany and she will run at Newmarket on Wednesday in the Nell Gwyn. She is more forward then Nahoodh and the run will put her spot on for the Guineas. Eva's Request is still in the race but I think she will go straight for the Irish Guineas. "I think Nahoodh is the better of the main two, but I do love them both. Nijoom Dubai was coughing after the Albany so we gave her time, and we also gave Nahoodh time which I think was the right thing to do." Monday 14 April 2008Lambourn trainer Barry Hills is set to unleash 1000 Guineas hopefuls Spinning Lucy and Royal Confidence at Newmarket on Wednesday, April 16. Spinning Lucy makes her seasonal bow in the Group Three Leslie Harrison Memorial Nell Gwyn Stakes. The Spinning World filly is held in high regard at Wetherdown House and convincingly landed the Listed EBF Bosra Sham Stakes over six furlongs last year. Hills’ son and assistant, Charlie Hills, revealed this morning: "She has wintered well and looks good in her skin. She had a niggly problem early last season so she missed the middle part, but then once she had gained experience from a couple of runs, she really started to find her feet and did very well, winning twice at the back end. "We have always thought quite a lot of her. The trip shouldn’t be a problem at all. She is beautifully relaxed and settled, so you could put her anywhere in a race." Hills is aiming Royal Confidence at the Listed European Free Handicap, when she will face colts for the first time, including stable-mate Nacho Libre. The Royal Applause filly, who carries 8st 13lb in the race, won a competitive Doncaster nursery in September before posting two fine efforts in Group company. Hills reported: "We are happy with the way Royal Confidence has wintered. She probably would not want the ground too soft, but it should be perfect at Newmarket. Seven furlongs is not a problem and we will have to just find out whether she stays a mile. We will see how she gets on this week and take it from there." Leslie Harrison Memorial Nell Gwyn Stakes runners. Group Three, seven furlongs, Newmarket, 3:45pm Wednesday.
. Natgora, the winner of the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes last year, galloped to the head of the 1000 Guineas market at Maisons-Laffitte on Monday, galloping clear of her rivals in her own time to win the Listed Prix Imprudence. She now attempts to emulate Miesque in landing the Imprudence-Guineas double. The weekend Guineas trials were dominated by Zarkava, who impressed winning the Prix de la Grotte on her seasonal debut. Connections will decide whether to head for Newmarket or Longchamp nearer the time, with Georges Rimaud, the Aga Khan's racing manager, saying: "We were very pleased with that performance. She acted very well on this rather heavy ground. "The two Guineas are open. She is entered in Newmarket and in France and I suspect that the owner will decide with the trainer. A decision will be taken closer to the time." Of the Oaks, for which she is now favourite with British firms, Rimaud said: "She has a lot of entries and it is very premature to talk about it." The colts' trial, the Prix de Fontainebleau, was won by Sheikh Hamdan's Tamayuz, who is rated highly by his trainer Freddy Head. The Poule d'Essai des Poulians is next on the agenda for the Nayef colt, who should get a mile and a quarter in time. The Prix La Force saw a live contender for the Prix du Jockey Club emerge in High Rock, who won by an impressive eased-down six lengths for Jean-Claude Rouget. Jockey Christophe Lemaire was impressed, telling At The Races: "Maybe he will be the French Derby winner. Sunday he was a little bit fresh and the pace was very slow. He pulled a little bit all the way but when I brought him out from the field, he showed very nice acceleration and he won very easily. "He's very powerful and a very clever horse and I hope he will be in great condition for the French Derby. He has the speed to do the trip at Chantilly and he is a great hope for Jean-Claude Rouget." Over at the Curragh, Georgebernardshaw won the Listed Loughbrown Stakes for trainer Aidan O'Brien, who had had a number of reversals earlier in the afternoon. "He's improving and he has options," said the trainer of the colt, who is entered in the British, French and Irish 2000 Guineas. Of US Ranger, who won the Prix Djebel (run later today) last year, O'Brien said: "We had been considering the Lockinge for him but Johnny Murtagh said he got tired at halfway, so we might have a rethink." Of Saturday's Listed trials at Kempton, Marcus Tregoning's Il Warrd stood out in the Easter Stakes, and is likely to go to the French Guineas. Tregoning told PA Sport: "I have watched the race several times over and he was absolutely different class to those, no question. "The official handicapper thought the performance warranted giving him a rating of 109, which still puts him a fair few pounds adrift of the top three horses in the betting for the Guineas. "Having said that, we are pretty certain he will improve quite a bit. But my gut feeling is that the chances are he's more likely to go to Longchamp for the French equivalent than run at Newmarket. Masaka Stakes winner Jazz Jam, meanwhile, could contest the Italian 1000 Guineas. It has been confirmed that Winker Watson will miss the 2000 Guineas, but could be ready for the Irish version, or for Royal Ascot. Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam said: "We took Winker Watson for a canter on Saturday and Roy Carter, who rides him at home, wasn't happy with the horse. "We had him scanned and found that he had a problem behind. In view of that, it wouldn't be right for the horse if we pushed him and so it's highly unlikely that he will be running in the 2,000 Guineas. "Instead, I hope that we will be able to head to the Irish 2000 Guineas with him or Royal Ascot," the trainer told www.peterchapplehyam.com. Filed on 14 Apr 2008 @ 10:47
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