Tuesday 14th October 2008
Gold seeking to continue Champion success for Head
THE Head family is probably the most famous dynasty in French racing and has an historic connection with the Group One Emirates Airline Champion Stakes (3.10pm), the £427,500 highlight of Champions’ Day on The NatWest Rowley Mile course at Newmarket on Saturday, October 18.
Alec Head trained two winners of the 10-furlong contest, Hafiz II (1955) and Rose Royale II (1957), while his daughter Criquette Head-Maarek sent out the 1993 heroine, Hatoof. This year the father/daughter partnership team up with Full Of Gold, who is owned by Alec and trained by Criquette.
Full Of Gold was a Group One winner as a two-year-old in 2007, taking the 10-furlong Criterium de Saint-Cloud, and made a winning return to action this season in the Group Two Prix Noailles over an extended 10 furlongs at Longchamp in April.
The three-year-old son of Gold Away failed to shine on his next three starts, but showed a distinct return to form last time out when runner-up in the Group Three La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte over 10 furlongs on September 25.
Criquette Head-Maarek said today: "Full Of Gold will be running in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.
“He ran very well at Maisons-Laffitte last time and the horse is fine at the moment although it’s going to be difficult to come and beat New Approach. As long as he runs well, I will be very pleased.”
Meanwhile, trainer Declan Carroll is hoping that his stable star Hits Only Viccan continue his rich vein of form this season in the totesport.com Cesarewitch (3.50pm), the historic two-and-a-quarter mile handicap run on The NatWest Rowley Mile course at Newmarket on Champions’ Day.
The four-year-old Lemon Drop Kid gelding has won five of his 10 starts during the current campaign, finished second on four other occasions and only once been out of the frame on his seasonal debut.
Sponsors totesport currently rate Hits Only Vic, who is set to carry 8st 11lb, a 14/1 chance for glory on Saturday.
Carroll said: "The intention is to run Hits Only Vic in the totesport.com Cesarewitch. He’s in good nick and has won his last two races. Those wins came on soft ground and ideally we would like to see some rain. The more rain that comes, the bigger chance the horse would have."
