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Friday 10 April 2009

Aidan O'Brien is preparing four colts for the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas on May 2. The Ballydoyle hander told PA Sport: "We are very happy with Mastercraftsman and he was a big, mature two-year-old. He did a nice piece of work at the Curragh and I am very happy with where he is."

Of Rip Van Winkle, O;Brien continued: "He is not a horse who takes a lot of work, and is a natural horse at home. The setback maybe wasn't a disadvantage, but time will tell. I am happy with where he is at the moment. He doesn't take a lot of work and, when they are like that, they might not learn as much as other horses.

"He is a quick thinker and a quick learner but was drawn wide in the Dewhurst and got pushed a bit wide. Johnny Murtagh got back further than he wanted to but we were very happy with him after the Dewhurst, and after he galloped at the Curragh."

O'Brien's other Guineas hopes are Westphalia, who goes in the Prix de Fontainebleau on Sunday and Set Sail, another runner in France this weekend.

John Oxx is lilely to run Azamour's half brother Arazan in the 2000 Guineas and could also run Beresford Stakes winner Sea The Stars.

Thursday 9 April 2009

The Brian Meehan-trained Delegator, a runner in next week's Craven Stakes, has seen his odds for the 2000 Guineas halve after an impressive gallop at Manton on Thursday morning.

Luca Cumani is likely to avoid a clash with Rainbow View and run Fantasia in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp on May 10 instead of the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. George Strawbridge, Rainbow View's owner/breeder, purchased Fantasia over the winter.

Cumani said: "Mr Gosden is making all of the right noises about Rainbow View, so we may go to the French Guineas and then go back to France again for the Diane. I am very happy with her and the plan is to run her in the Nell Gwyn."

Serious Attitude the danger to unbeaten Dynaformer filly

Trainer John Gosden is happy with the progress last season's champion juvenile filly Rainbow View has made over the winter. The Newmarket handler plans to give the 1000 Guineas favourite a racecourse gallop on the Rowley Mile next week ahead of her run in the one mile Classic in early May.

Gosden told the assembled press on Wednesday: "I do like the Cheveley Park winner, Serious Attitude, she is a very nice filly, and I like her sire, Mtoto, too. Rainbow View outclassed them all last year, but there are new threads coming in - and they are coming from all angles.

"She is very well, and I am happy with the way she is coming in her coat. She is bouncy and very happy. I would be happy with her physical progress, and mentally she is just as fiery as ever.

"I have been around a lot of good fillies who were diminutive, but I don't think size is everything. Mentally she is tough to deal with, but it is that nervous energy that gives her such a competitive edge. Of all the fillies I have ever trained she is by a long way the wildest."

Rainbow View could run in the Oaks after the Guineas, with Gosden continuing: "I don't see a mile and a quarter being a problem at all, but a mile and a half I am not sure about.

"I know how important the end of year is and I didn't want to start off too early. We could have something like the Prix de l'Opera at the end of the year, and I would very much have the Breeders' Cup in mind after that."

Mafaaz has to prove himself before taking Kentucky Derby berth

Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes winner Mafaaz runs in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday. Gosden said: "He worked on Wednesday morning at Keeneland over a mile and a half. He switched leads well and will run in the Bluegrass.

"He had a difficult journey over but seems content and happy now he has arrived. It is a big ask for a three-year-old in April, but we'll see.

"I felt he needed another run in between Kempton and Kentucky and if he runs a big race in the Blue Grass, he'll go on to the Derby at Churchill Downs. He would have to run a big race to prove himself, as I would not want him to take a barrier at Churchill and deny someone else a place."

Lincoln Handicap winner Expresso Star will step up to stakes company now, with the Doncaster Mile or the Earl of Sefton at Newmarket next week possible targets.

Wednesday 8 April 2009

Mick Channon is pleased with the form his three potential Classic fillies are showing on the gallops. The trainer plans to run Dunes Queen in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket next week, whilst Cherry Hinton Stakes winner Please Sing and Rockfel winner Lahaleeb will run in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury a week on Saturday.

Channon told his website: "I think Dunes Queen is a very good filly but she has no experience and will be jumping in at the deep end at the Craven meeting.

"The others two fillies are already Group winners and have the form in the book. Please Sing has pleased me, while Lahaleeb never shows much at home, but is a different filly on the track."

Unbeaten three-year-old colt Captain Ramius is set to run in the oddschecker.com Easter Stakes at Kempton on Saturday. The Dundalk Listed winner holds a French Guineas entry.

Clive Brittain thinks his Listed Spring Cup winner Nashmiah could run well in the 1000 Guineas. The trainer said: "She is in there with a great chance of running a big race. My only worry going into the Lingfield race was if seven furlongs would get her at it but from a bad draw she won well.

"She's not mentioned in the betting for the 1000 Guineas but that wouldn't worry me one bit. I think she is a good filly and she won't run before Newmarket as her Guineas trial was at Lingfield."

The Henry Candy-trained sprinter Corrybrough will miss the early part of the season after meeting with a setback.

Tuesday 7 April 2009

Brian Meehan is going to wait until after the Craven meeting before deciding whether Racing Post Trophy winner and Derby favourite Crowded House will run in the Stan James 2000 Guineas.

Meehan told his website: "Crowded House is coming along really well and we are happy with him. However, he will not be running in one of the early trials, so there is no rush to make any decision about where he will make his first appearance.

"We have always said the Guineas or the Dante Stakes at the York May meeting will be his initial target, but we will decide only when we have seen what the Guineas Trials have to offer, and of course, what the weathermen have to say about the ground situation."

Meehan plans to run Delegator in the Craven Stakes at the Rowley Mile. "We have been delighted with his progress this spring. The 2000 Guineas is very much on the agenda and his run in the Craven should put him spot on," the trainer added.

Sir Michael Stoute has been forced to abandon plans for a Guineas prep for Horris Hill Stakes winner Evasive, who has an abscess in his foot. Stoute told the Racing Post: "He had some pus in a foot but was cantering this morning and will go straight to the Guineas."

Roger Charlton plans to run Royal Lodge Stakes second Cityscape in the Bathwick Tyres Greenham Stakes at Newbury a week on Saturday.

Michael Bell looks likely to run the Queen's Derby hope Four Winds in a conditions race at Newbury on the Friday of the Greenham meeting. The trainer told PA Sport: "He's in very good form and could well run at Newbury in a mile and a quarter conditions race on Friday week. We'll have a look at it, assess the ground and the opposition and take a view nearer the time. He's potentially a very nice horse but he's got a few bridges to cross yet."

Bell's Art Connoisseur looked top class when winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, before finishing second to Mastercraftsman and then sustaining an injury in the Gimcrack Stakes.

Bell is delighted with his form on the gallops this term, saying: "He's fine and is on target to either run in the Craven Stakes, the Free Handicap or the Greenham Stakes. We'll put him in all three races and take it from there. Where he goes will be ground dependant and obviously with the Free Handicap we will have to see how much weight he gets.

"Potentially none of the races are ideal because in the Craven he's got a penalty, in the Greenham the ground could be wrong and in the Free Handicap he could be top-weight. That said it is a trial so we really want to run him to get an idea where we are going. He looks very well and is working nicely."