Racing Centre

James Fanshawe picks up a prize for win in the Fairy Footsteps Premier Claming Stakes on Saturday 22nd September. Picture by Steve Cargill.

JAMES Fanshawe has confirmed that Sir Gerry is on course for a shot at the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on October 5.

The Carson City colt produced a superb performance to land the Gimcrack Stakes at York last month.

Fanshawe’s charge showed a cracking turn of foot as he came from the rear to beat Great Barrier Reef by three-quarters of a length on the Knavesmire.

Following that victory he has pleased at home and is poised to take his place in the six-furlong Group 1 on the Rowley Mile.

Newmarket-based trainer Fanshawe said: “Sir Gerry won his Group 2 and he seems to have been in good form since the race.

“He worked last weekend and seemed well. He goes for the Middle Park.”

Sir Gerry’s participation in the Middle Park Stakes sets up a potentially mouth-watering clash with Norfolk Stakes and July Stakes winner Winker Watson.

Fanshawe has Doncaster maiden winner Falconry in the Cheveley Park Stakes - also on October 5 - but no final decision has been taken on whether she’ll line up for the two-year-old fillies Group 1.

Fanshawe said: “She has other options - there is the (Finnforest) Oh So Sharp Stakes on the next day and also the (EBF Jersey Lily) fillies’ nursery. She’ll run in one of the three races, but which one I’m not sure at this stage.”

Also, Fanshawe will wait until after Font’s likely appearance at Ascot on Friday before making up his mind whether the Sadler’s Wells gelding contests the totesport.com Cambridgeshire on October 6.

He said: “We are aiming to run Font at Ascot on Friday and we will see from there.”

The brilliant three-day Cambridgeshire meeting takes place on the Rowley Mile Course, starting on Thursday, October 4. Please contact the racecourse on 01638 675 500 for ticket information or go to the link ’Buy Tickets’.

By Tony Rushmer