Morrison looks forward to Darley July Cup
Wednesday 11th June, 2008
Sakhee's Secret - brilliant winner of last year's Darley July Cup
HUGHIE MORRISON was in Newmarket this morning to discuss prospects for his star sprinter Sakhee's Secret.
The chestnut four-year-old was a dazzling winner of the Darley July Cup last summer, narrowly beating Dutch Art in a thriller on The July Course.
Morrison's charge reappeared this spring in the Palace House Stakes on The NatWest Rowley Mile where he just went down to Captain Gerard.
Now the East Ilsley-based trainer is planning a shot at the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot before thoughts turn to Europe's premier sprint, which is scheduled for Friday July 11.
Morrison said: "Sakhee's secret worked yesterday and I am happy with him. He is not a horse who needs a lot of work as he is very clean-winded and does a lot on the gallops himself. As a result, he doesn't do a lot of serious work but he is ready to do himself justice."
Connections initially considered running Sakhee's Secret in both the King's Stand and the Golden Jubilee. But Morrison feels that it would be a 'big ask' .
Instead, the Sakhee colt runs once at the Royal meeting before returning for the Darley July Cup. Morrison also won the race with Pastoral Pusuits in 2005, so it is no surprise that he holds the £400,000 race - now part of the Global Sprint Challenge - in the highest regard. Indeed, the entire three-day fixture is one that Morrison savours.
He said: "I've always enjoyed the July meeting. It is at the height of summer and there is a great atmosphere on the course.
"Any victory like Sakhee's Secret's last sends shivers down the spine. Following Pastoral Pusuit's a couple of years earlier, it was very exciting. We are hoping Sakhee's Secret can do it again this year."
Tony Rushmer