Sunday 12th April 2009
Smullen to ride Serious Attitude in stanjames.com 1000 Guineas
RAE GUEST has called on Pat Smullen to ride his stable star Serious Attitude in the stanjames.com 1000 Guineas.
The duo have teamed up before to good effect with Smullen partnering the Guest-trained Yomalo when she took a Group 3 contest at Leopardstown in 2006.
Guest also regularly used the jockey on Bahia Breeze, including when she was second in the Group 2 Sandown Mile in 2007.
Now the Newmarket-based trainer has secured Smullen’s services for the unbeaten daughter of Mtoto, who is 6/1 with the sponsors for Classic glory at The Home of Racing on Sunday May 3.
Smullen, who is retained by Dermot Weld, already knows what it’s like to win a Guineas. He was aboard Refuse To Bend when he prevailed in the 2000 Guineas six years ago.
Guest said: “Pat has done very well for us in the past, is a top-class jockey, has won a Guineas at Newmarket - and we are more likely to get him in the future.
“We’ve had to wait until today because Pat had to make sure with Mr Weld that it was okay.
“He is going to come over to sit on her for the first time on Wednesday when she is due to have a racecourse gallop at Newmarket (ahead of racing).
“Everything is spot on for that. She worked nicely yesterday and there are no problems at the moment.”
The talented filly, who Guest has a stake in, was victorious in each of her three starts in the 2008 season, culminating with a Group 1 triumph in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket last October.
By Tony Rushmer
