Sander poised for seasonal bow in Nell Gwyn
Tuesday 17th April, 2007
SANDER Camillo puts her Stan James 1,000 Guineas credentials on the line on April 18 when she contests the Group 3 Shadwell Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket.
The daughter of Dixie Union filly, 11-4 with the sponsors to land the fillies’ classic on May 6, will be returning to action after a 280-day lay-off. A dual Group-winning filly, she has to give 3lb to each of her nine rivals for the seven-furlong contest. All eyes will be on the Jeremy Noseda-trained runner as she bids to enhance her already lofty reputation.
Sander Camillo initially made her mark at two when scoring in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. She then went on to take the Group 2 Cherry Hinton Stakes on Newmarket’s July Course.
Ease in the ground meant connections swerved possible late summer and autumn engagements. But she has thrived away from the track and Noseda has provided plenty of positive reports on her progress this spring. On Sunday morning, the trainer gave Sander Camillo the go-ahead for the Nell Gywn and confirmed jockey Frankie Dettori would be renewing his acquaintance with her.
Noseda said: “I’ve been very happy with her preparation and she is in the shape I would have wanted her to be in for a ’prep’ race ahead of a tilt at the 1,000 Guineas.”
One of her rivals on Wednesday will be Blue Rocket, who was seen out when finishing ninth in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes.
Her trainer Tim Pitt said: “Blue Rocket worked very nicely last Wednesday. She is in the 1,000 Guineas and she is in there for a reason.”
Also in the field will be Scarlet Runner, third behind Sander Camillo in the Albany but a subsequent Group 3 winner.
Newmarket trainer Sir Michael Stoute sends Kaseema, who was seventh in the Rockfel Stakes last October, while Kompete, Barshiba, Nina Blini, Precocious Star, Pretty Majestic and the unbeaten Fantasy Parkes are also all set to line up.
Written by Tony Rushmer