CONNECTIONS MULL GOODWOOD OPTION FOR COLLECTION
BECKETT HOPES CELTIC SLIPPER CAN SCALE THE HEIGHTS
Collection, the impressive winner of a York handicap this week, could make a quick reappearance in the £30,000 Listed David Wilson Homes Stakes (2.50pm) at Goodwood on Wednesday, May 21.
The 11-furlong contest, which takes place on Alan Ball Memorial Raceday, day one of a fantastic two-day meeting at the beautiful West Sussex track, has attracted 12 classy entries.
The William Haggas-trained colt, owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Brunel), was a beaten favourite on his first outing this season at Doncaster in April but picked up impressively to win over 10 furlongs at York on May 14 and connections are considering the Goodwood contest as a possible next step.
Harry Herbert, Racing Manager to Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, revealed today: “We honestly have not made up our minds. We were delighted with the York result and we have known for some time that he is a pretty exciting horse.
“We need to see how he has come out of the race and then decide whether we go the David Wilson Homes Stakes route and then on to the Derby, or go straight to the Derby, or whether actually a better route is to go straight to the Royal meeting (Ascot).
“He was quite impressive in winning the other day. He has been working very well at home and we were disappointed with his performance first time out this year. There were good reasons for that - the combination of freshness, the ground and William quite rightly leaving a little bit to work on meant that he just blew up at Doncaster.
“He was rated 80 and has won a handicap impressively and you could argue that Sir Michael Stoute’s Dante Stakes winner (Tartan Bearer) has done the same thing, albeit in a trial.
“We need to think further about it. We are excited about him and we will know more at the beginning of next week.”
Also among the entries is the Richard Hannon-trained Scintillo, who was successful in the Group One Gran Criterium at San Siro in October.
Trainer Brian Meehan could saddle City Leader, victorious in the Group Two Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot last term, while Newmarket handler Luca Cumani has engaged Savarain, who won the Wedlake Bell Maiden Stakes over a mile and a half at Goodwood on May 8.
Meeris took the Listed Stay Tuned For Betfair Turbo Tennis Stardom Stakes at Goodwood in September and is one of a Mick Channon-trained trio to be entered. The others are Listed winner Siberian Tiger and Better Hand.
Others include the Mark Johnston-trained duo Age Of Reason and Drill Sergeant, Top Lock from the Andrew Balding yard and the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Whistledownwind, beaten a neck in the Group Three Classic Trial at Sandown last month.
Celtic Slipper is set to test her credentials in the £30,000 Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes (4.00pm) over nearly 10 furlongs, a race which has attracted 14 entries.
Trainer Ralph Beckett was thrilled with the Anabaa filly’s progress last term when she proved herself a high-class competitor with a number of smart efforts in Pattern company.
After breaking her maiden at Goodwood in August, Celtic Slipper returned to the course later that month and finished a close second to Sense Of Joy in the Group Three totescoop6 Prestige Stakes. She then followed a fine third to Spacious in Doncaster’s May Hill Stakes with a deserved victory in a Group Three contest at San Siro in Italy.
Beckett revealed this morning: “Celtic Slipper will run in the Height Of Fashion Stakes, so long as the ground isn’t too quick.
“She has had a struggle this spring, which is why she isn’t appearing until now but we are hoping this will be a prep for the Italian Oaks.”
Celtic Slipper, whose final start last season came in Group One company when just over three lengths fifth to Scintillo in the Gran Criterium at San Siro, is having her first run of the campaign.
The Whitsbury handler continued: “She is a proper filly but she is not the easiest to train. We have had some soundness issues with her but we seem to be on the right track now and I’m hoping she can run well and progress through the year.
“Her regular pilot Seb Sanders will more than likely ride her.”
Beckett has also entered the useful Hobby but the Robellino filly is likely to take up an alternative engagement.
Beckett added: “Hobby is entered but is declared to run at Newbury today, but if they don’t get the rain there then I need another option.”
The classy Height Of Fashion Stakes entry also includes Listed Masaka Stakes winner Jazz Jam from the Paul Cole stable, Group Two May Hill Stakes runner-up Kotsi, the highly-tried Don’t Forget Faith, Kempton maiden winner Ever Rigg, recent Ascot heroine Rosaleen, the Group Three-placed Annie Skates and the John Gosden-trained pair of Michita and Queen Of Naples.
The prestigious race has been contested by many fillies who have gone on to even greater achievements. In 2006, Rising Cross dead-heated with Soft Centre and the first-named subsequently triumphed finished second in the Epsom Oaks and then won the Group Two Park Hill Stakes.
Love Divine, trained by Henry Cecil, strode on to Epsom Oaks glory after securing the equivalent Goodwood contest in 2000, while Mezzo Soprano, runner-up in 2003, triumphed in the Group One Prix Vermeille at Longchamp later that year
The entertaining card stages three races dedicated to Alan Ball, commencing with the first race, the £7,000 Alan Ball Memorial Handicap (2.15pm), run over nine furlongs, then continuing with the six-furlong EBF Alan Ball Supporters’ Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (4.35pm), and the seven-furlong Evertonians Remember Alan Ball Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (5.10pm).
The five-furlong £8,000 Baker Tilly Handicap (3.25pm) over a mile and a half has 14 entries, while the concluding mile £7,000 TurfTV Picture Service Stakes has 17 horses engaged.
The second day of Goodwood’s fantastic meeting, Thursday, May 22, features the £30,000 Listed Letheby & Christopher Festival Stakes over 10 furlongs, for four year olds and upwards.
Illustrious Blue, locally trained by William Knight and ridden by Paul Doe, saw off his nearest rivals Road To Love and Imperial Star to prevail in a thrilling renewal 12 months ago.
ALAN BALL MEMORIAL RACEDAY
The Alan Ball Memorial Raceday commemorates the late England football captain and World Cup winner, who passed away in April last year.
A great fan of horseracing, Alan Ball caught the racing bug from his old friend and teammate turned racehorse trainer Mick Channon, and as a football manager, the former Everton, Arsenal and Southampton hero was known to take his players to the races as a team building exercise.
Alan has strong connections to the south coast, having also managed this year’s FA Cup finalists Portsmouth, and Goodwood is keen to offer fans of all of the World Cup hero’s former clubs a fantastic discounted deal on May 21. Any supporter turning up with their season ticket or club membership card on Alan Ball Raceday will be able to buy two tickets for the Gordon Enclosure for only £24.
For every football fan taking up the ticket offer, Goodwood will give £2 to two charities that were close to Alan’s heart, Help A Local Child and The Bobby Moore Fund, and will guarantee a minimum donation of £750.
The day has been organised by Goodwood managing director Rod Fabricius in conjunction with Alan’s stepson Jimmy Ball, along with Everton fans Charlie McCann of Stan James and Talksport’s Mike Parry.
GROUND
The going at Goodwood is currently good to firm, good in places up the straight.
Seamus Buckley, Clerk of the Course at Goodwood, reported: “We had six millimetres of rain on Wednesday night into Thursday morning which helped us as the previous fortnight had been dry.
“We have nice ground at the moment. If it were to dry out, we would look at watering as it is the policy at Goodwood to keep moisture in the ground.”
Admission prices: Richmond Enclosure £27; Gordon Enclosure £19 (50% discount for NUS card holders), £14 over 65s; Gordon Enclosure football fan discount - two for £24 (Alan Ball Memorial Raceday only - season ticket or club membership card required); FREE parking available; All children under 17 FREE.
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
Archive
