Dutch Art committed to Darley July Cup bid
Sunday 8th July, 2007
Dutch Art - has been working well ahead of Darley July Cup bid
PETER CHAPPLE-Hyam has revealed that Dutch Art will line up in this Friday’s Group 1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket.
The Medicean colt showed himself to be in great form when galloping on Friday morning and connections have committed him to Europe’s richest sprint.
Chapple-Hyam’s charge was a dual Group 1 winner at six furlongs as a two-year-old, landing the Prix Morny and the Middle Park Stakes.
This season he proved his versatility when taking third spot behind Cockney Rebel in the Stan James 2000 Guineas before last month finishing fourth to Excellent Art in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Now the three-year-old is set to step back in trip and tackle his elders for the first time with a tilt at the £375,000 feature race of the Ritz Club July Festival.
Newmarket-based trainer Chapple-Hyam said: “Dutch Art worked superbly on Friday morning so we are going to go for the July Cup. He is in tip-top form and this race was always in the plan for him.
“He gets a mile so if it was a very fast six furlongs it could be a little bit of a worry but the July Course is a stiff six - that will help.”
Chapple-Hyam also committed Royal Ascot winner Winker Watson to this Thursday’s TNT July Stakes.
The unbeaten Piccolo colt built on a Newbury maiden win with success in the Norfolk Stakes just over a fortnight ago.
Chapple-Hyam said: “I am very happy with Winker Watson and he is going to run on Thursday. The step up to six furlongs should suit him.
“The sun is shining here in Newmarket this morning, so hopefully we’ll have nice good ground for him.”
By Tony Rushmer