Racing Centre

DRAYTON PRIMED FOR DARLEY JULY CUP BID

Star South African mare Irridescence remains firmly on target for the £200,000 Group One UAE Hyrda Properties Falmouth Stakes, the highlight on day one of the Ritz Club July Festival at Newmarket on Wednesday, July 11, after pleasing connections in a racecourse gallop this morning (Wednesday, July 4).

The Mike de Kock-trained six-year-old, who had the great Ouija Board in third when winning the Group One Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth Cup over 10 furlongs at Sha Tin, Hong Kong in April, 2006, worked on Newmarket’s July Course in company with stablemate Asiatic Boy.

Assistant trainer Trevor Brown is overseeing preparations at Geoff Wragg’s Newmarket yard - where the South Africans are boarding - prior to de Kock’s arrival on Monday.

Brown revealed today: "I was very happy with Irridescence’s gallop. The course was wet so I wouldn’t say she put up a great time but considering how wet the course was, I think you can forgive her for that. I wouldn’t be worried at all if the ground was soft on the day of the race. In fact, I’m not worried at all about the ground."

Irridescence is a proven top-flight performer from nine to 13 furlongs but has also tasted victory over a mile in an open handicap at Newmarket racecourse, South Africa, in November, 2004.

The daughter of Caesour had two starts for trainer John Hammond in France last term before returning to de Kock, one of which was a fifth-place finish to Librettist over a mile in the Group One Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

Brown reported: "She’s going the right way. The mile may be a little bit short of her best as she’s more of a 10-furlong filly. She hasn’t run for three months so she might just be in need of the run but having said all that, she’ll be right there. I’m very happy with her progress. She’s done well since arriving in England. Everything has been top class besides the weather!

"She’s very versatile and the nice thing about her is that she’s got enough pace. Since the race in Hong Kong, she’s been going to the front every time and prior to that she’d never gone to the front. That being the case, I’m not too worried about her not having the pace over a mile, although saying that, it is shorter than her optimum."

The South African challenger can expect stiff competition in the prestigious contest with no fewer than eight individual Group One winners entered, including the winners of the English, Irish and French 1000 Guineas (Finsceal Beo and Darjina) and Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes heroine Red Evie.

The de Kock-trained Drayton is also on course for his tilt at Ritz Club July Festival Group One glory in the £375,000 Darley July Cup over six furlongs on Friday, July 13.

The Danetime three-year-old heads to Europe’s richest sprint after a pleasing fifth-place finish to Soldier’s Tale in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 23. That effort followed a below-par run when he didn’t seem to stay a mile in the Stan James 2000 Guineas on Newmarket’s NatWest Rowley Mile in May.

Brown continued: "Drayton is on course for the July Cup and I’m very happy with him. He’s come out of Royal Ascot very well and I’d actually say he’s better for it. Hopefully, we’ve found another three lengths and he was only beaten just over three lengths. It was a cracking run.

"You can put a line through the Guineas run. Everything was against him. He jumped, pulled too hard and it wasn’t there. I don’t think he gets a mile anyway."

Brown, who is unconcerned about the recent wet weather, continued: "It poured down just before Drayton’s race at Ascot and he won in the mud in Ireland so that doesn’t bother him at all. I don’t think he’s the type of horse who’d be bothered if the ground was riding on the top either. He’s a pretty straightforward, sound, hard-knocking horse."

The Ritz Club July Festival takes place at Newmarket’s July Course from Wednesday, July 11 to Friday, July 13, with each of the three days offering a feast of fantastic racing.

LESTER & FRANKIE WILL OFFICIALLY OPEN THE NEW-LOOK JULY COURSE

At 12 noon on Wednesday, July 11, Newmarket’s two most famous residents, Lester Piggott and Frankie Dettori, will officially open the new July Course facilities following the £10m redevelopment of the area behind the stands.

Newmarket’s Managing Director, Lisa Hancock, said: "Frankie lives just up the road from the July Course and it has long been one of his favourite tracks, while Lester lives just across the Heath and had a record second to none here, including a record 10 July Cup victories. We thought they would be the ideal pair to open our new facilities."

 CLASSICAL MUSIC A STRONG THEME FOR FESTIVAL OPENING

Classical music with a modern twist will be a strong opening theme for the Ritz Club July Festival. On Tuesday evening, July 10, a gala concert, headlined by the acclaimed operatic pop group G4, will open the week's festivities and the theme will continue on Wednesday, July 11, with a series of performances by classical music stars before racing, between races and after the last.

Since finishing runner-up in the 2004 X-Factor final on ITV, G4 have gone on to be the most successful male reality show group ever. Following a spectacular debut in 2004, they have had a number one album, selling over 1.2m in a mere 12 months, and completed two sell-out UK tours.

Local schools will also be involved in the opening gala concert as pupils from Swaffham Prior Primary, Ditton Lodge Primary, Kennett Primary, All Saints' Primary, St Felix Middle, Scaltback Middle, Paddocks Primary and Moulton Primary schools take to the stage as a warm-up act for G4. There will also be students from the Lights, Music, Action theatre school and the Stagecoach Choir.

Gates will open at 6pm on Tuesday evening with the choirs performing from 6.30pm – 8pm. G4 will be live on stage at 8.30pm. Tickets start at £25 and can be booked by calling 01638 675 500.

On the following day, "Classic FM Day", Wednesday, July 11, five different classical performers will take to the stage to entertain racegoers during the afternoon on the first day of the Ritz Club July Festival. Exceptional young violinist Ching, charismatic electric string quartet Eclipse, accomplished pianist and flautist Soraya Mafi, stunning all-girl opera group Apassionata and internationally renowned Icelandic tenor Gardar Thor Cortes will all play sets on the July Course stage.

12.30pm – 1pm Ching

1.45pm – 1.50pm Eclipse

2.15pm – 2.30pm Soraya Mafi

2.50pm – 3.05pm Appassionata

3.25pm – 3.35pm Eclipse

4.00pm – 4.15pm Soraya Mafi

4.35pm – 4.50pm Appassionata

5.10pm – 5.40pm Gardar Thor Cortes

NATIONAL STUD TEAM UP WITH THE RACECOURSE TO OFFER AN EXCLUSIVE CHAMPAGNE TOUR

Before racing on Wednesday and Thursday, July 11 and 12, there is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy an exclusive champagne tour of the National Stud. The special package includes coffee on arrival, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Stud, a champagne and canapés reception after the tour, a Premier Enclosure badge for the afternoon's racing and free entry into a prize draw to win a meal for two at Steven Saunders' Newmarket restaurant.

There are only limited places. Package price: £45 per person - to book call the National Stud on 01638 663 464.

FASHION THEME BEGINS

All eyes will be on head-turning hats, handbags and shoes as Wednesday’s Award will be for ‘Most Stylish Accessories’.

1st Prize - £500 voucher to spend at Michael Birnie Jewellery, Bury St Edmunds

2nd Prize – Thai Spa Experience for two, courtesy of Sangdao Spa of Newmarket.

3rd Prize - £80 voucher to be spent at online shoe boutique Mima Lee, www.mimalee.co.uk

All 10 finalists will receive a Goodie Bag containing a fabulous hat courtesy of Newmarket Hat Hire, of Fordham near Newmarket.

RACECOURSE ADMISSION DETAILS

Tickets for all enclosures on all three days can be purchased in advance with a 20% discount for booking on-line (note: no discounts for the three-day badge/ticket):

Premier Enclosure - £32 each day or £69 for a three day badge

Grandstand & Paddock - £20 each day or £45 for a three-day ticket

Garden Enclosure - Closed

Children aged under 16 accompanied by an adult will be admitted FREE to both enclosures every day.

For advance bookings or more information: Call 01638 675 500 or visit www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Alistair Haggis, Press Officer, 07884 026 487

Alistair Haggis, Press Officer, 07884 026 487

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Alistair Haggis, Press Officer, 07884 026 487