HIGH-CLASS FIELD IN PROSPECT FOR totesport CELEBRATION MILE - FRESH GROUND FOR GOODWOOD ON SUNDAY
George Washington could face the exciting Iffraaj and crack mare Soviet Song, who will be returning to the scene of her greatest triumph, should he make his eagerly-anticipated racecourse return in the £100,000 totesport Celebration Mile on Sunday, August 27.
A classy 11-strong field remains at the five-day confirmation stage for what is potentially a spectacular renewal of the prestigious Group Two contest.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Iffraaj revealed his liking for Goodwood in the Group Two Betfair Cup at the Glorious Goodwood Festival on August 2, when he took that seven-furlong contest in scintillating style, sprinting clear of his field to record a four-length triumph over second-placed Jedburgh.
Iffraaj previously failed by a head to catch Les Arcs over six furlongs in the Group One Darley July Cup at Newmarket. The totesport Celebration Mile will be the five-year-old Zafonic horse's first attempt at a mile.
Godolphin could also be represented by Group Three winner Satchem who was runner-up to stablemate Echo Of Light in the Group Three Ladbrokes Summer Mile at Lingfield in July, while Caradak, third behind Welsh Emperor in the Group Two Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on August 19, is also engaged.
Godolphin racing manager, Simon Crisford, reported today: "It all depends on the ground as to which one might run. A lot hinges on what happens with the weather over the next two weeks - not just for Goodwood.
"The plan was for Iffraaj to go to Haydock (for the Betfred Sprint Cup) but it depends on what the forecast predicts there in two weeks time, and what the ground is like at Goodwood. He wouldn't want it too soft.
"All options are open for the three entries from our stable, and when we get towards the middle of this week we'll work out what we're going to do."
The James Fanshawe-trained Soviet Song, successful in the 2004 Group One Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes at the course, and runner-up in that contest for the last two seasons, behind Proclamation and Court Masterpiece respectively, could bid for her second course and distance triumph.
The six-year-old, a five-time Group One winner, will be bidding for her second Group Two success of the season after emphatically securing the Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Sir Michael Stoute has taken the totesport Celebration Mile on six occasions and saddled Chic to victory in the last two renewals. The master of Freemason Lodge is represented by Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes third Rob Roy, who landed the Group Two Betfred.com Mile at Sandown in April.
Alongside the awesome George Washington, Aidan O'Brien may also run Arabian Prince and River Tiber. The former was a length and three quarters third to King Jock in the Group Three Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown on August 20, while the latter was last seen when 10th behind Araafa in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
Nayyir, runner-up to Chic in 2004, could represent trainer Gerard Butler, while the Barry Hills-trained Group Three winner Killybegs may also run, as could Mark Johnston's Prince Of Light, successful in the Listed Vodafone Thoroughbred Stakes over a mile at Goodwood on August 5.
Goodwood Racecourse is renowned for producing superb going and Clerk of the Course, Seamus Buckley, reports that a fresh strip of ground will be unveiled for Sunday.
Buckley revealed today: "We are looking forward to a busy and exciting weekend of racing with the main event on Sunday being the Group Two totesport Celebration Mile, which looks like having an outstanding field.
"The going is currently Good to Firm but if the predicted rain arrives it should be Good by the weekend. We have dolled out the last six furlongs of the Mile course by approximately eight metres for Saturday, and this rail will be removed after racing on Saturday night, thus providing a fresh strip of ground for racing on Sunday."
The totesport Celebration Mile is the feature event on the second day of Goodwood's two-day August Holiday Meeting. The quality seven-race card also includes the Group Three Normandie Stud Prestige Stakes over seven furlongs, which was won last year by subsequent Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile and Group One Coronation Stakes winner, Nannina.
The highlight of the seven race card on Saturday, August 26, is the Listed Windflower March Stakes over a mile and three-quarters, won last year by Mubtaker.
JULY COURSE READY TO SIGN OFF WITH A BANG
Newmarket Town Plate in new August slot
The last meeting of Newmarket's summer season beckons this Friday and Saturday afternoon, with the old and new very much to the fore - the old in the shape of the Newmarket Town Plate, the first race ever run under written rules in Britain back in 1666, which has a new slot this year as the last race on Saturday's card; and the new being what will beckon for the July Course immediately after this weekend, as the bulldozers prepare to roll into the July Course on Monday to start work on the track's £9 million redevelopment.
"The July Course hasn't changed much over the last 60 years," commented Lisa Hancock, Managing Director of Newmarket Racecourses.
"I would be the first to admit the redevelopment behind the stands is long overdue and I hope that in the not too distant future we will have the funding for the other stages within our July Course master plan which will see the stands themselves modernised.
"I must say that I won't be sorry to see the disparate array of buildings behind the stands disappear and I am confident that what we will be replacing them with, plus the extra space we will be gaining by pushing out the perimeter of the racecourse at the back, will greatly improve people's enjoyment here next summer.
"It is somehow rather appropriate that the very last race to be run here before the redevelopment begins will be oldest race of them all - the Town Plate. The fabric has to be modernised, but the history continues. The Town Plate has traditionally been run in October, as set out by an Act of Parliament by Charles II nearly 350 years ago, which in recent years has seen the race run as part of an Arab raceday. But with the redevelopment, October was a non-starter on the July Course so it is moving to this Saturday as part of a thoroughbred card and we will see how it goes."
Eighteen horses have been entered for the 3m 6f flat race, for which the prizes for the winning and placed riders consist of a box of Powters sausages and a voucher for Goldings, the tailor and outfitter in Newmarket High Street. It is not run under official Jockey Club rules and is restricted to amateur riders who are not licensed by the Jockey Club.
The entries include winners from the flat such as Lysanders Quest, Stolen Song and Domenica, and from National Hunt racing such as Auburn Spirit and Papua.
Highlight of Saturday's official card is the Hopeful Stakes (Listed) over six furlongs in which Pivotal Point and Fayr Jag stand out amongst the sixteen strong entry. Friday's card features the Renault Master EBF Maiden Stakes which invariably throws up some high class two-year-olds. The well-regarded Henry Cecil-trained Many Volumes may look to break his duck in it on his way to bigger things.
Newmarket Town Plate Entries
Horse Name Owner Rider Colours
Baranook (IRE) Dr Peter Moran Dr Peter Moran
Carricklee Boy Peter Oppenheimer Peter Oppenheimer
Asabache S Regan Mrs Karen Naidu
Old Golden Grey Stephen William Colin Yates
Nicodemus MIss H Williams Miss H Williams
Kniveniven Catherine Fenemore Catherine Fenemore
Among Stars Leanne Jackson Nina Whitfield Lysanders
Quest MrsNield Gerry Chesneaux
Mr Jake Ted Haynes Craig Jarvis
Stolen Song M J Ryan John Ryan
Domenico (IRE) Peter J Kirkpatrick P Kirkpatrick
Ha Ha Ha Katie James Katie James
Doonis News Mr D C Stewart Mr D C Stewart
Papua N Quesnal Charlie Duckworth
Auburn Sprint Kieren Ryan Kieren Ryan
Hostile Native Helen Slater Helen Slater
Discomania Mr K F Clutterbuck Mrs Jane Clutterbuck
Veinte Siete Miss Juliet Frost Miss Juliet Frost
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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