Thursday 23rd August 2007
Cumani sprint star in action
Luca Cumani - brings Group-class sprinter Balthazaar's Gift to the July Course on Saturday for Listed event.
BALTHAZAAR’S GIFT will bid for more stakes success when he contests a six-furlong Listed race on the July Course this Saturday (August 25).
The four-year-old son of Xaar bolted up in the rescheduled Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Ascot last month before suffering a less than straightforward passage in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood three weeks ago.
Now Luca Cumani’s charge is set to take his place in a nine-runner renewal of the Countrywide Steel and Tubes Hopeful Stakes on what is the final day’s racing of 2007 on the track.
Writing recently week on www.lucacumani.com, the master of Bedford House observed: “Balthazaar’s Gift appears to be in excellent form. In fact, the lad that rides him tell me the horse is' buzzing'!
“I thought he ran a very creditable race under a huge weight last time. I think with a bit more fortune he would have challenged the winner.”
Among his rivals, Firenze would appear to have strong claims with the ground likely to be on the soft. Last year’s Gimcrack winner Conquest is also in the line-up while recent Windsor conditions race scorer Presto Shinko is entitled to respect.
Saturday also sees the final of the Unicorn Asset Management July Course series. This £50,000-guaranteed race has attracted a strong field of 12, including qualifier winners Dan Tucket, Elna Bright and Red Alert Day. The one to beat, though, may just be Master Chef, eased in grade after a crack in Group 2 company.
Newmarket’s two-day fixture actually begins tomorrow (August 24) with the feature being the DBS St Leger Yearling Stakes. Marlborough trainer Richard Hannon looks to have a strong hand for the £40,000 race with Baronovici and Geestring seeking to build on their last-time-out victories. Racing commences at 2.10pm.
By Tony Rushmer
