McCartney given Darley Dewhurst green light
Friday 12th October, 2007
McCartney after The Urban-i Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. Picture by Steve Cargill
MARK Johnston has revealed that impressive Champagne Stakes winner McCartney is bang on track for a tilt at the Darley Dewhurst Stakes on October 20.
The In The Wings colt has rapidly progressed towards the top of the two-year-old pecking order with his third successive victory arriving in the Group 2 at Doncaster last month.
He built on a Salisbury Listed triumph with a two-and-a-half length win from Alexander Castle. And Middleham-based trainer Johnston is now eying up a shot at the Group 1 juvenile feature on Champions’ Day at the NatWest Rowley Mile.
Johnston told www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk : “McCartney is very well and ready to go - the Darley Dewhurst Stakes is the plan.
“He is in great shape. I don’t see any reason why the Dewhurst shouldn’t suit him. He has shown a lot of speed - hence the decision to stay at seven furlongs.
“The horse should handle any ground but you always prefer to see good fast ground.”
By Tony Rushmer