King's Stand Stakes hero Takeover Target and his compatriots Falkirk and Glamour Puss are reported to be in fine form ahead of a three-pronged Australian assault on the £360,000 Darley July Cup on Friday, July 14, at Newmarket's July Course.
The trio will attempt to emulate Japanese runner Agnes World who is to date the only non-European-trained winner of the Darley July Cup, having taken the race in 2000.
Ben Janiak, assistant trainer to his father Joe Janiak, is looking forward to Takeover Target's bid to become the first Australian-trained horse to win the prestigious Group One six-furlong contest, which is Europe's richest sprint.
Janiak reported today: "Takeover Target worked on the Al Bahathri this morning. He worked over 1,000 metres and he ran up the last 600. The horse felt good and he's on track for the Darley July Cup.
"We'll take him over to the course on Thursday morning to give him a look at the track and he'll only do a bit of three-quarter work, but I'll try and get him two looks at the track before race-day."
The seven-year-old became the second Australian victor, after Choisir in 2003, of the Group Two King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, defeating 28 rivals with a blistering display of speed over five furlongs.
The Australian sprint champion turned out again four days later for the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes, running a respectable third behind Les Arcs over an extra furlong.
While Choisir pulled off a memorable Royal Ascot sprint double, he failed in his attempt to add the 2003 Darley July Cup, finishing runner-up to Oasis Dream, and Takeover Target's connections are hopeful their charge can go one better.
Janiak commented: "The King's Stand was a good run but we thought he was a little bit under-done going into it, so he had a gut buster then and gave everything he had, which meant he was a little bit flat for the Golden Jubilee, and I believe that's why he didn't win.
"It was still a good effort in the Golden Jubilee. Jay (Ford) got off him and said he was gone probably 200 metres from the post but he just stuck to his guns and plugged away and ran a nice third.
"The Australian horses have thrived in the conditions over here, so we might even stay for the Nunthorpe Stakes at York but we're not sure yet."
Falkirk, a Group Two winner over his preferred trip of six furlongs in Australia, was only a length behind Takeover Target when fourth in the King's Stand, and side-stepped his engagement in the Golden Jubilee.
Trainer Lee Freedman's representative, Clinton Youngson, revealed today: "Falkirk's doing well at the moment and is working nicely. He'll probably do a bit more on the Limekilns on Thursday and then we'll give him a look at the track on Saturday. He's enjoying the weather at the moment - it's more like back home.
"He ran a good race in the King's Stand but he's much better over six furlongs. He would have a big chance so long as the track's not too hard, that would be our main worry."
The Danny O'Brien-trained Glamour Puss was a staying on fourth in the King's Stand but failed to show her true running when six lengths 10th to Les Arcs in the Golden Jubilee.
The six-year-old mare had Takeover Target back in fourth when winning the Group One Seppelt Salinger Stakes over six furlongs at Flemington in October and could attempt to repeat that result at Newmarket if she continues to please her trainer.
O' Brien reported today: "She's fit and well. She'll have a gallop on Saturday morning and if I'm happy with her work she'll go to the Darley July Cup and then we'll head home.
"Quick ground wouldn't be a problem for her."
The Group One Darley July Cup is the feature event of the Newmarket July Course's three-day July Festival, which takes place from Wednesday, July 12, to Friday, July 14.
CUMANI BIDS FOR FOURTH OLD NEWTON CUP WITH SOULACROIX
Luca Cumani revealed today that Soulacroix will line up in the £85,000 bet365 Old Newton Cup at Haydock Park on Saturday, July 8.
The Newmarket handler first landed the historic 12-furlong event in with Zaralaska in 1997, and followed up with subsequent dual Group One winner Alkaased in 2004 and Zeitgeist last year.
Having previously been in the care of Amanda Perrett, Soulacroix made a winning debut for Cumani when scoring on his seasonal reappearance in a 12-furlong lady amateur riders handicap at York on June 17, when partnered by the trainer's daughter, Francesca.
Cumani said today: "Soulacroix is an intended runner in the bet365 Old Newton Cup at Haydock.
"I was very happy with his last performance. He did it very well, although it wasn't as competitive as Saturday's contest will be.
"He has come out of the race in good shape and has benefited from the run. He didn't mind the ground as it was at York [good to firm] so I am hoping for more of the same, as he seemed to operate well on it.
"It just takes a good horse to win this - that's all! He has a chance and is in grand form but he's by no means a certainty - it's a very hot race."
The five-year-old's opponents on Saturday could include the George Margarson-trained Young Mick, winner of the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot, and Signatory, trained by John Gosden, impressive when taking a Newmarket handicap on May 26 by three lengths from subsequent Northumberland Plate second River Alhaarth.
The master of Bedford Lodge also has Princess Nada engaged in the bet365 Lancashire Oaks but no decision has been made as to her participation yet.
RISING CROSS AND SHORT SKIRT COULD LINE UP IN bet365 LANCASHIRE OAKS
Vodafone Oaks runner-up Rising Cross is one of 17 entries for the Group Two £90,000 bet365 Lancashire Oaks, run over just short of a mile and a half at Haydock Park on Saturday, July 8.
The John Best-trained filly ran a valiant race, overcoming a stumble in the closing stages, to finish six lengths behind the impressive Alexandrova in the fillies' classic at Epsom Downs on June 2.
Best revealed today: "I haven't spoken to Gary Tanaka (her owner) yet but I've looked at the entries and it seems as though it could be okay for her. I need to speak to Mr Tanaka and then see how she works this week before committing her.
"She's in good form at the moment so we just need to make sure we get her in the right races."
The Cape Cross filly followed her Epsom effort with a trip to San Siro in Italy on June 18, where she finished eighth of 15 to Dionisia in the Group One Oaks D'Italia.
The Maidstone handler reported: "She's fine after the Italian Oaks. The Italian jockeys made sure that we stood no chance there. They really gave her a hard time and knocked her about a bit, but she seems fine now, so we'll see how she is this week.
"The Lancashire Oaks looks winnable on paper and I think the form that she's shown generally is a pretty high standard."
Rising Cross, who dead-heated with Soft Centre for the Listed Lupe Stakes at Goodwood in May, had smart juvenile form, finishing second to subsequent Group One Fillies' Mile and Coronation Stakes winner Nannina in the Group Three Prestige Stakes in August.
Best commented: "She rarely throws in a bad one and when she does there's a reason for it. When she ran at Doncaster at the end of last year she was virtually knocked over soon after the stalls opened. She's not very big so if she does get knocked early on it makes life difficult for her.
"Good ground would be fine. I don't mind if it's on the soft side but she wouldn't want it too firm. There has been a bit of rain up there so I'd be surprised if the ground is a problem to her."
Vodafone Oaks third Short Skirt could also bid for compensation in the Group Two Bet365 Lancashire Oaks on Saturday, July 8, providing the ground at Haydock Park is suitable.
The John Greetham-owned filly showed her best form to date on good to soft ground at York in May when defeating subsequent Vodafone Oaks winner Alexandrova by a length and a quarter in the Group Three Musidora Stakes.
Greetham said this morning: "She needs soft ground and there's a lot of rain about up there this week. She was originally aimed for the Irish Oaks but the bet365 Lancashire Oaks is a nice prize, it's a Group Two. I don't think she'll take both, I'd imagine that she'll go for one or the other.
"I haven't spoken to the trainer (Sir Michael Stoute) since the entry was made so I don't know yet which race she'll go for. He worked her last week and I assume she worked satisfactorily."
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Short Skirt could finish only third, over seven lengths behind Alexandrova in the Vodafone Oaks at Epsom on June 2, but Greetham is confident that was not the Diktat filly's true running.
The owner commented: "She's fine after Epsom and is at the top of her game. I imagine she will have come on since her run in the Vodafone Oaks and we're obviously looking for soft ground but we're also looking for a galloping track, both of thorse things are important. Epsom wasn't right for her.
"Michael wasn't keen to go there in the first place but she became the best filly he's got and so he went to the Vodafone Oaks with her, which I was fine with, but she didn't handle it.
"Her participation depends on whether they get rain, and if they don't get enough then I think we shall go to Ireland."
Other leading contenders for the bet365 Lancashire Oaks include recent Ribblesdale Stakes heroine Mont Etoile, Sir Michael Stoute's unexposed performer Allegretto, the Vodafone Oaks fifthxGuilia, the John Gosden-trained Innocent Air and the progressive Princess Nada from the Luca Cumani stable.
There are three Irish entries including recent impressive Gowran Park maiden scorer Arosa from the David Wachman yard who could be joined by stable companion Starspangled, a daughter of Danehill out of the great racemare User Friendly. The third Irish entry is the Jim Bolger-trained Senora Galilei.
GROUND
The ground at Haydock Park is currently: GOOD TO FIRM.
Kirkland Tellwright, Clerk of the Course at Haydock Park, reported today: "The ground is currently good firm and we have been watering to maintain this.
"The forecast is for a hot, muggy middle of the week with thundery showers on Wednesday.
"Conditions are then predicted to get cooler and drier on towards the end of the week."
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