Thursday, July 26, 2003

NAYEF HEADS CORAL-ECLIPSE BETTING AS FIELD TAKES SHAPE

"With Nayef attempting to win the first ever BHB Triple Crown, and challengers including the ex-Italian stars Falbrav and Rakti and the South African hero Victory Moon, we're confident this will be a vintage renewal of the Coral-Eclipse," said Coral's David Stevens.

Other probable runners include last year's World Series winner Grandera, 7-1 with Coral, and Hold That Tiger, 9-1 to give Aidan O'Brien a third win in the race.

Coral-Eclipse
2-1 Nayef, 6-1 Norse Dancer, 7-1 Falbrav, Grandera, 8-1 Rakti, 9-1 Hold That Tiger, 12-1 Balestrini, 14-1 Olden Times, 16-1 Comfy, Dutch Gold, 20-1 Sights On Gold, Victory Moon, Highdown, Burning Sun, 25-1 Right Approach

BHB Triple Crown
10-1 Nayef

King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes
2-1 Sulamani, 4-1 Nayef, 5-1 High Chaparral, 6-1 Kris Kin, 10-1 Alamshar, Islington, 12-1 Ange Gabriel, 16-1 Bollin Eric, Norse Dancer, The Great Gatsby, 20-1 Indian Creek, Leadership, Warrsan, 25-1 Bar

VICTORY MOON TARGETING CORAL-ECLIPSE STAKES

"It's as definite as you can be 10 days before the race but the Coral-Eclipse is certainly the plan for Victory Moon," said Dascombe today.

The Al Mufti colt made his debut in Britain in last week's Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, finding Godolphin's Dubai Destination 14 lengths too powerful. He had began the year in fine form on the dirt in Dubai, winning both the UAE 2,000 Guineas and UAE Derby, beating Songlark by half a length, at Nad Al Sheba.

The former jump jockey commented about racing Britain.

"It is completely different, more the undulations of the track than anything else. In Dubai obviously he ran on dirt and he never ran on grass there. In South Africa the grass tracks are generally very flat, round and easy," explained Dascombe.

"More so last week, I think he ran too fresh, too keen and just wouldn't settle. He's extremely fast out of the gates and when he got in front there, he just pulled too hard so I think we'll probably just try and settle him in a bit."

Victory Moon's run in the Queen Anne was over a mile and Dascombe is convinced that Victory Moon will improve for the step up to 10 furlongs in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes.

He said: "Certainly 10 furlongs will suit him much better than a mile although whether it's actually going to be his best trip, I still would have some doubts - I actually think that he is going to want a bit further and that he's going to prove best at a mile and a half.

"The way that Mike trains, he likes to build horses up to a race - he wanted to start him off at a mile so he didn't over exert himself and run too far."

After his outing last week, De Kock stated that Victory Moon wasn't 100 per cent fit and that he might have had too much time off in Dubai. Dascombe is certainly pleased with the way he has come out of his Ascot race.

"His weight is better and he's now just a little above his racing weight in Dubai. He's done a piece of work since and worked extremely well - I'd be very happy with him. His main aim is the King George [VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot next month] so we still don't want to get him ready too soon."

Johnny Murtagh rode Victory Moon at Royal Ascot but regular jockey Wayne Smith will be back in the saddle at Sandown.

Dascombe continued: "I just got off the phone to Wayne who's in Macau where he's ridden 11 winners in the last two weeks so he's obviously in good form. He knows the horse inside out, he won on him four times in Dubai and he's going to ride him next Saturday."

Despite Victory Moon going down by 14 lengths in the Queen Anne, Dascombe believes that British racegoers ignore him at their peril.

"I don't think he ran badly at Royal Ascot, there's improvement to come and I still think that he's a very good horse. I know the form from Dubai hasn't really been franked over here by Songlark but Victory Moon has done all he's been asked to do.

"Last week's performance wasn't disappointing - he's taken on Group One horses when not 100 per cent in himself and he's been beaten 14 lengths over an inadequate trip."

DUTCH GOLD COULD BID FOR CORAL-ECLIPSE GLORY

Jockey Philip Robinson felt the surface had been a bit on the fast side for the three-year-old Lahib colt when he ran so well at Epsom Downs in the Derby.

"If the ground is right and came up good or good to soft, Dutch Gold could well take his chance," said the Newmarket trainer. "The major factor with him is that he wants some cut in the ground and, as he's a horse with a very big future, we're only going to go where the ground suits him. On soft ground, we'd be prepared to take the older horses on."

Brittain has chosen to wait with Dutch Gold rather than run him in last week's King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"It's the same old story - Epsom and Royal Ascot don't really mix. The preparation you have for the Derby - so many good horses have tried to do the two and come unstuck," the trainer explained.

Before his attempt at classic glory in the Derby, Dutch Gold had destroyed three rivals over an extended mile and a half in the Group Three Chester Vase in May, proving six lengths too strong for Summerland. Brittain is unconcerned about the step down to 10 furlongs in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes.

He continued: "I think any top-class horse, if they're truly Group One standard, they have a range from a mile to a mile and a half. As he proved at Chester, he has the pace to run a very fast mile and a half and at Sandown you have got to have the stamina as well as the pace."

Dutch Gold is a half-brother to Crimplene, whom Brittain also trained so successfully for owner Sheikh Marwan Al Maktoum.

Crimplene improved dramatically from the age of two to three, winning three times at the highest level during her classic season. While Dutch Gold has built on his winning seasonal reappearance on the sand at Lingfield to become a Pattern winner at Chester, the trainer expects him to be even better next year as a four-year-old.

"Crimplene finished at three and I think she would have been a better four-year-old. But then the policy is to send the fillies to stud at three," opined Brittain.

"Dutch Gold didn't quite make it as a two-year-old - he always showed at home that he could be a racehorse but never showed it on a racecourse.

"So the first signs we saw of any real ability was when we ran him on the all-weather and that set him up for the season."

The Coral-Eclipse Stakes is the second leg of the British Horseracing Board's new Summer Triple Crown/Grand Slam initiative, featuring bonuses of £1 million and £5 million respectively. Supplementary entries for the Coral-Eclipse Stakes can be made at a cost of £20,000 on Monday, June 30, 2003.

FIRST £1 MILLION JULY MEETING FAST APPROACHING

Lisa Hancock, Managing Director of Newmarket Racecourses, commented: "Top-class racing at the July Meeting alongside the new July Fair and Tattersalls Sales will combine over these three days to make Newmarket the place to visit in the second week of July."

On Tuesday, July 8, a brace of Group Two events take centre stage on the first day of the July Meeting, including the £70,000 CHIPPENHAM LODGE STUD CHERRY HINTON STAKES over six furlongs, one of the leading contests for two-year-old fillies. Several fillies who have gone on to Classic success in their three-year-old careers have landed this event, including Sagitta 1000 Guineas heroine Sayyedati in 1992 and Vodafone Oaks winner Diminuendo in 1987.

The Tuesday is LADIES' DAY, giving the perfect excuse for women to come to the races in their finest attire which will put them in with a chance of winning some fabulous prizes in the Best Dressed Lady competition.

Tuesday's feature race is the £100,000 PRINCESS OF WALES'S UAE EQUESTRIAN AND RACING FEDERATION STAKES (3.25pm) over a mile and a half. This contest for three-year-olds and upwards has attracted a great entry of 38 leading middle-distance performers. Godolphin has 10 possibles including Sulamani while Nayef and High Accolade are among the other entries. Mutamam, Fruits Of Love, Saddlers' Hall, Rock Hopper, Carroll House and Unfuwain have landed the race in recent years. The John Dunlop-trained Millenary was triumphant last season.

Taking centre stage on Wednesday are two further Group Two events, the first of these being the £70,000 TNT JULY STAKES over six furlongs for two-year-old colts and geldings. This race has been upgraded to Group Two status for 2003, reflecting the quality of recent winners which include such as Godolphin's Noverre in 2000, who went on to triumph in the Group One Sussex Stakes at Goodwood the following season.

Wednesday will also see some top-class fillies in action in the most valuable race of the day, the £100,000 FALMOUTH STAKES. A total of 33 entries have been made for the mile contest, including five fillies from overseas, the German-trained Walzerkoenigin, France's Maiden Tower and Mes Bleus Yeux and Ireland's Aqualina and Luminata. The home team includes Royal Ascot winners Macadamia and Hold To Ransom while Soviet Song and Gonfilia are also engaged. Tashawak triumphed for John Dunlop 12 months ago while the 2001 heroine was the globe-trotting German filly Proudwings, who was successful in races in Germany, France, England and Japan during her career.

The climax of the meeting comes on the Thursday, with the £250,000 Group One DARLEY JULY CUP, Europe's premier sprint, which looks likely to feature the amazing Australian speedster Choisir, who made history last week at Royal Ascot when landing the Group Two King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday before going on to victory in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes on Saturday.

He is likely to renew rivalry with Henry Candy's star filly Airwave, who chased him home in the latter race at Royal Ascot, having won the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket last season.

In the 26 years since the International Classifications were introduced, on no less than 20 occasions has the Darley July Cup winner gone on to be crowned champion sprinter in Europe, a clear pointer to the stature of this great race.

Throughout the week there is plenty of very competitive handicap action, including the historic £70,000 LADBROKES BUNBURY CUP over seven furlongs on the Thursday, the £50,000 BONUSPRINT STAKES over 10 furlongs on the Wednesday and the £60,000 TOTE EXACTA RATED STAKES over six furlongs on the Tuesday.

In total, there is exactly £1 million at the moment on offer in prize money at the July Meeting, a massive 50 per cent up on the 2001 figure of £665,000.

Lisa Hancock added: "Everyone at Newmarket is eagerly awaiting the first £1 million July Meeting. The three days promise thrilling racing in the stunning situation of the July Course and we look sure to have one of the races of the season between Choisir and Airwave in the £250,000 Darley July Cup."

TICKETS

Tickets for the July Meeting cost £28 for the Members' Enclosure, £15 for the Grandstand and Paddock Enclosure and £5 for the Family Enclosure on each day. Accompanied children aged under 16 are admitted FREE.

Tickets can be purchased by contacting Newmarket Racecourses on 01638 675 500 or through the Internet site http://www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk.

LOTS ON OFFER AT NATIONAL STUD JULY FAIR

In addition to high-class horse racing, racegoers at the July Meeting will also have the chance to visit the National Stud July Fair, located a few minutes walk from the July Racecourse at the National Stud.

Moved for the first time from its previous slot in November and completely revamped, the July Fair promises a fantastic programme of predominantly equine entertainment to suit all tastes.

Supported by easibed, Kubota, Pacemaker Magazine and the East Of England Development Agency, the fair will feature a stunning display by the Household Cavalry, parades of famous racehorses and rare breeds, medieval jousting, sheepdog displays and polo matches as well as over 100 trade stands providing some excellent shopping opportunities - everything from equestrian equipment and country clothing to gifts, fashion, fine art, jewellery, handbags and accessories. The fair is open from 9am through to 9pm on all three days of the July Meeting.

The important role of the Retraining of Racehorses charity will be highlighted with ex-racehorses displaying how they have developed new skills in dressage, quadrille, polo and endurance.

The Thursday features the "Great Racehorses Parade" which will see former stars Call Equiname, Celeric, Decorated Hero, Go Ballistic, Kribensis, Relkeel, Party Politics and Red Marauder on parade. The National Stud's current stallions Bahamian Bounty, Golden Snake, Silver Patriarch and First Trump will also be available for viewing.

Other attractions include a pageant of horse-drawn carriages, working displays by rare breeds of horses and ponies, while an exciting event will be the speed challenge between a polo pony and a TVR Sports car.

Tickets cost £5 for adults and £3 for children. Visitors can either pay on arrival or in advance by calling 08707 203010 or visiting www.nationalstudfair.co.uk. Tickets combining admission to the fair and the racecourse are available, offering a 20% discount on admission to the July Meeting.

Lisa Hancock said: "The July Fair will add a very exciting new dimension to July Week, offering our racegoers the opportunity to arrive early or stay late and enjoy some of the many attractions and entertainments on offer."

JULY MEETING 2003 - RACE PROGRAMME

Time Race Details Age Conditions Distance Prize Money
Tuesday, July 8, 2003
1.15 Arab Race
1.45 H&K Commissions Handicap Stakes 3+yrs C 0-90 1m £16,000
2.15 Tote Exacta Rated Stakes 3yrs B 0-105 6f £60,000
2.50 Chippenham Lodge Stud Cherry Hinton Stakes 2yrs Group Two 6f £70,000
3.25 Princess of Wales's UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation Stakes 3+yrs Group Two 1m4f £100,000
4.00 Strutt & Parker Maiden Stakes 2yrs D 7f £12,000
4.35 The racingpost.co.uk Fillies Rated Stakes 3yrs B 0-100 7f £20,000
5.05 The Hyperion Court Maiden Stakes 3yrs D 1m2f £12,000
Total Day Prize Money £290,000

Wednesday, July 9, 2003
1.45 Bahrain Trophy 3yrs Listed 1m6f £32,000
2.15 TNT July Stakes 2yrs Group Two 6f £70,000
2.50 The Bonsusprint Handicap Stakes 3yrs B 0-105 1m2f £50,000
3.25 Falmouth Stakes 3+yrs Group Two 1m £100,000
4.00 Capannelle Racecourse EBF Novice Stakes 2yrs D 6f £12,000
4.35 Laing O'Rourke Handicap 4+yrs C 0-95 2m £15,000
5.05 NGK Spark Plus Handicap 3+yrs D 0-85 5f £12,000
Total Day Prize Money £291,000

Thursday, July 10, 2003
1.45 The Kirtling Handicap Stakes 3yrs C 0-100 1m £20,000
2.15 Weatherbys Superlative Stakes 2yrs Group Three 7f £40,000
2.50 Darley July Cup 3+yrs Group One 6f £250,000
3.25 Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup 3+yrs B 0-105 7f £70,000
4.00 The Little Ditton Maiden Fillies Stakes 2yrs D 6f £12,000
4.35 Highland - Helmwall Maiden Stakes 3yrs D 7f £12,000
5.05 The Dullingham Handicap 3+yrs C 0-90 1m4f £15,000
Total Day Prize Money £419,000

TOTAL PRIZE MONEY FOR THE MEETING £1,000,000

MAJOR CATALOGUE UPDATE FOR TATTERSALLS JULY SALE

Lot 498 selling on Thursday 10th July, CLIFDEN is from the first crop of Champion French miler GOLD AWAY and was winning for the third time in five starts. The winner of his maiden at Yarmouth in April, and a 6 furlongs novice race at Ayr, CLIFDEN was also 3 3/4 lengths third behind record breaking 8 lengths Coventry Stakes winner THREE VALLEYS in a Nottingham novice race giving 4 pounds to both the winner and runner up.

Proven on firm and good to soft ground CLIFDEN has received a Timeform rating of 104 after his runaway Italian success, making him currently the equal fifth highest rated juvenile in Britain, above Royal Ascot winners PEARL OF LOVE and HOLBORN, and on the same mark as another Royal Ascot winner SILCA'S GIFT.

Catalogues for the Tattersalls July Sale, which runs from Tuesday, July 8th until Thursday, July 10th, are available now from Tattersalls or online at http://www.tattersalls.com.

THE BLOOD-HORSE RECOGNIZED AT THE AMERICAN HORSE PUBLICATIONS'

"We are proud to be recognized by our colleagues at AHP," commented Stacy V. Bearse, President and CEO of Blood-Horse Publications. "The AHP Awards recognize the creativity and contributions of our staff, and their committed service to our readers."

The Blood-Horse earned first place honors in the Feature Article category for author Steve Haskin's piece entitled "Gallant Grooms of Meadow's Past," as well as the General Excellence-Newsletter category for TBH Marketwatch. Second place accolades include bloodhorse.com in the Electronic Media category and Gary McMillan's article entitled "Crackdown" in the Personality Profile category. A third place nod went to Craig Harzmann's article "Changing Seasons" in the Personality Profile category. Honorable Mentions were presented for the following: The Blood-Horse for General Excellence-Association Magazine (circulation over 15,000); "A Day in the Life of a Racetrack", written by members of the Blood-Horse editorial staff-Feature Article; "Peak Performer" by Eric Mitchell-Personality Profile; Barbara Livingston's Old Friends-Equine Related Books; and Paul Volponi's "Sly, Old Fox"-Personal Column category.

The Blood-Horse is published by Blood-Horse Publications, an international publishing house for top Thoroughbred and general equine magazines, books, and videos. In addition, Blood-Horse Publications also publishes The Horse, a monthly equine health care magazine; the official Kentucky Derby and World Thoroughbred Championship/Breeders' Cup souvenir magazines; Auction Edge, and Keeneland magazine. Blood-Horse Publications also publishes books and videos under the Eclipse Press banner. In addition, Blood-Horse Publications also operates Exclusively Equine, its e-commerce and mail-order catalogue division; and a family of leading Web sites including bloodhorse.com and TheHorse.com.

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

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