YOUMZAIN “BOUNCING” AHEAD OF JUDDMONTE CORONATION CUP BID
GALACTIC STAR AMONG 27 REMAINING IN GROUP ONE CONTEST
The Mick Channon-trained Youmzain is among 27 top-class contenders remaining following the May 20 forfeit stage for the £200,000 Group One Juddmonte Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs on Ladies Day, Friday, June 6, 2008.
Runner-up to Dylan Thomas in both the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes last season, Youmzain will head to Epsom in a bid to capture one of Europe’s most coveted middle-distance prizes.
The Jaber Abdullah-owned five-year-old, successful in the Group One Preis von Europa at Cologne in 2006, ran with credit on his latest start. That came in a competitive renewal of the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic in March, when Youmzain finished fifth behind the crack South African mare Sun Classique over the Coronation Cup distance of a mile and a half.
Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Jaber Abdullah, revealed today: “The Juddmonte Coronation Cup is Youmzain’s next scheduled race - that is what he is being aimed towards at the moment, so he will probably go there.
“He is working very well and is in top form. He is bouncing and Mick is happy with him. There are no other races for him at this stage, so we are thinking he will most likely go to Epsom.
“He ran some extremely good races last year without quite getting his head in front and the hope is that he can win one of those big ones this time around. He is a good class horse - a real good horse - and he has a finishing kick, especially when there’s a little bit of cut in the ground.”
Raymond is also racing manager to Saeed Suhail, whose progressive Galactic Star could take his place in the Juddmonte Coronation Cup.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained five-year–old improved throughout last season after missing most of 2006, and ran his best race to date at Newmarket on May 4.
That latest effort came in the Group Two stanjamesuk.com Jockey Club Stakes. Galactic Star ran on strongly to take third behind the successful Andre Fabre-trained Getaway and 2006 Group One St Leger winner Sixties Icon.
Raymond reported: “Galactic Star is a possible for the Juddmonte Coronation Cup. The Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot could also be on his agenda but there is no reason why he couldn’t go to Epsom first if Sir Michael feels that is the best route to take.
“He improved all last year and there could be more to come as he is finally growing up. He missed almost a whole season with a head injury, so he is entitled to get better. He has plenty of ability and we were pleased with his return at Newmarket behind Getaway.”
The highly progressive Getaway could bid to give Fabre his seventh victory in the race after Shirocco (2006), Swain (1996), Sunshack (1995), Apple Tree (1994), In The Wings (1990) and Saint Estephe (1986)
The five-year-old is one of two possible French raiders, the other being the Richard Gibson-trained globetrotter Doctor Dino, winner of the Grade One Man O’War Stakes at Belmont Park, USA, and the Group One Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in 2007.
Duke Of Marmalade could head to Epsom Downs off the back of a Group One triumph in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp on April 27. He is one of a formidable Aidan O’Brien-trained septet that also includes Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune, last year’s Coronation Cup runner-up Septimus, recent Group Three Ormonde Stakes victor Macarthur, Ladbrokes St Leger third Honolulu, Song Of Hiawatha and Red Rock Canyon.
Red Rocks, successful in the 2006 Grade One Breeders’ Cup Turf, returned to winning ways over 10 furlongs at Lingfield on May 10, while Mores Wells, one of nine Irish-trained horses remaining, was a close third to Regime at the Curragh on May 5.
Jim Bolger has left in his dual Guineas-winning heroine Finsceal Beo, who would be attempting a mile and a half for the first time, while John Gosden could run last season’s impressive Group One Ladbrokes St Leger winner Lucarno.
The remaining Stoute trio also includes Group Two winner Papal Bull and Maraahel, who was third in last year’s renewal, while Godolphin could run Group One Emirates Airline Champion Stakes victor Literato, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe third Sagara and Al Shemali.
The Alan Swinbank-trained Group Two Lancashire Oaks winner Turbo Linn could line up along with Group Two winner Soapy Danger from the Mark Johnston yard, the Richard Fahey-trained Anna Pavlova, winner of the Group Two Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp in October and the Group One-placed Hattan.
Henry Cecil may run Group Two winner Multidimensional, while William Muir could saddle Big Robert.
The £50,000 “Dash” Heritage Handicap, staged over the world’s fastest five furlongs at Epsom Downs on Derby Day, Saturday, June 7, has 42 horses going forward at the May 20 forfeit stage, while 28 remain in the £50,000 Rose Bowl Heritage Handicap run over 10 furlongs the previous day.
For further information please contact -
Nick Blofeld, Managing Director at Epsom Downs Racecourse, on 01372 726311
Andrew Cooper, Director Of Racing at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 07774 230850
Johnno Spence at JSC Sport on 020 7385 8819
THE 2008 JUDDMONTE CORONATION CUP
Class One, Group One, £200,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.25pm, Epsom Downs, Friday, June 6, 2008. For four-year-olds and upwards, one mile & four furlongs. Entries closed April 8, entries revealed April 9 (45 entries), forfeit stage May 20 (27 remain), five-day confirmation stage May 31, final declaration stage 10.00am, June 4. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, May 19.
Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
40320-13 AL SHEMALI 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
123116- ANNA PAVLOVA 5 Galaxy Racing Richard Fahey
031606-06 BIG ROBERT 4 Martin Graham William Muir
33131-3 DOCTOR DINO (FR) 6 J Martinez Salmean Richard Gibson FR
442423-1 DUKE OF MARMALADE (IRE) 4 Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
21065-5 FINSCEAL BEO (IRE) 4 Michael Ryan Jim Bolger IRE
521114-3 GALACTIC STAR 5 Saeed Suhail Sir Michael Stoute
113/124-1 GETAWAY (GER) 5 Baron Georg von Ullmann Andre Fabre FR
46140-(1)20 HATTAN (IRE) 6 Saeed Manana Clive Brittain
112330-4 HONOLULU (IRE) 4 Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
12111-06 LITERATO (FR) 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
142411- LUCARNO (USA) 4 George Strawbridge John Gosden
1/3336-01 MACARTHUR 4 Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
131350-2 MARAAHEL (IRE) 7 Hamdan Al Maktoum Sir Michael Stoute
450136-3 MORES WELLS 4 Iona Equine Kevin Prendergast IRE
1101/15-44 MULTIDIMENSIONAL (IRE) 5 Niarchos Family Henry Cecil
451130- PAPAL BULL 5 Papal Bull Syndicate Sir Michael Stoute
220223- RED ROCK CANYON (IRE) 4 Michael Tabor, Sue Magnier, Derrick Smith, Diane Nagle Aidan O'Brien IRE
014430-1 RED ROCKS (IRE) 5 Paul Reddam Brian Meehan
203523- SAGARA (USA) 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
10/1211- SEPTIMUS (IRE) 5 Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
116/100-2 SIXTIES ICON 5 Susan Roy Jeremy Noseda
15/230-14 SOAPY DANGER 5 Renata Jacobs Mark Johnston
115115- SOLDIER OF FORTUNE (IRE) 4 Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE
0/12060- SONG OF HIAWATHA 4 Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE
1110-2 TURBO LINN 5 J Nelson Alan Swinbank
35242-5 YOUMZAIN (IRE) 5 Jaber Abdullah Mick Channon
27 entries remain after May 20 forfeit stage
9 Irish-trained
2 French-trained
THE FOLLOWING HORSES WERE REMOVED AT THE MAY 20 FORFEIT STAGE: ADLERFLUG (GER), ARCH REBEL (USA), ASK, BALKAN KNIGHT, BOSCOBEL, COASTAL PATH, GOWER SONG, HALICARNASSUS (IRE), LION SANDS, PEEPING FAWN (USA), PERSIAN STORM (GER), QUEST FOR HONOR, REGAL FLUSH, SOMMERTAG (GER), YEATS (IRE), YELLOWSTONE (IRE), ZAHAM (USA), ZAMBEZI SUN
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