Saturday 4th July 2009
Most International Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Friday
This year’s £400,000 Darley July Cup (3.10pm) is set to be a truly international contest, with leading sprinters from five countries among the 14 acceptors remaining after today’s six-day confirmation stage for the Group One sprint at Newmarket’s July Course.
The top six-furlong contest, the third and final British leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, is highlight of the last day of Newmarket’s three-day Champagne Lanson July Festival - Wednesday, July 8, to Friday, July 10.
After storming to a sensational victory over the minimum trip in the Group One King’s Stand Stakes on his British debut at Royal Ascot on June 16, Australian superstar Scenic Blast will make the step up to six furlongs on the July course. will make the step up to six furlongs on the July course.
The Dan Morton-trained five-year-old has previously triumphed over the same trip in the Group One Crown Newmarket Handicap at Flemington, Australia, in March and will be bidding for a third Global Sprint Challenge victory following his successes at Royal Ascot and in the five-furlong Lightning Stakes at Flemington in January.
The Australian presence will be further enhanced by veteran sprinter Takeover Target, who is set to make his second appearance in the Darley July Cup, having been seventh behind Les Arcs in 2006. , who is set to make his second appearance in the Darley July Cup, having been seventh behind Les Arcs in 2006.
The evergreen 10-year-old, who notched his seventh Group One success with victory in the Goodwood Handicap at Morphettville, Australia, in May, was forced to miss the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot because a high temperature, but is reported to be in rude health by his trainer Joe Janiak following two racecourse gallops with Scenic Blast on the July Course.
Last season’s top South African sprinter, J J The Jet Plane, will also bid to take the prize for the southern hemisphere. Trained by Mike de Kock, the five-year-old landed three Grade One victories in his native country and was an impressive winner of a Listed contest at Windsor on his British debut in May prior to coming fourth in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes., will also bid to take the prize for the southern hemisphere. Trained by Mike de Kock, the five-year-old landed three Grade One victories in his native country and was an impressive winner of a Listed contest at Windsor on his British debut in May prior to coming fourth in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes.
After saddling Anabaa to victory in 1996, Chantilly-based Criquette-Head Maarek is bidding for a second Darley July Cup success with the talented filly African Rose, who landed the Group One Ladbrokes Sprint Cup at Doncaster last season. , who landed the Group One Ladbrokes Sprint Cup at Doncaster last season.
Duff, trained by Edward Lynam, is the Irish representative and he finished eighth to Art Connoisseur in the Golden Jubilee Stakes after having every chance two furlongs out.in the Golden Jubilee Stakes after having every chance two furlongs out.
The home challenge is set to be headed by Art Connoisseur, from the stable of Michael Bell. The three-year-old colt announced himself on the sprinting scene with a superb victory in the Golden Jubilee Stakes, beating Darley July Cup hopefuls including King’s Apostle and Intrepid Jack as well as J J The Jet Plane and Duff. and Intrepid Jack as well as J J The Jet Plane and Duff.
The Richard Hannon-trained Paco Boy may also bid to follow up success at Royal Ascot having won over a mile in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes, while Group Three scorer Main Aim, from the yard of Sir Michael Stoute, could also drop down in trip after coming fourth in the same race. may also bid to follow up success at Royal Ascot having won over a mile in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes, while Group Three scorer Main Aim, from the yard of Sir Michael Stoute, could also drop down in trip after coming fourth in the same race.
Fleeting Spirit was the only one to give Scenic Blast a race in the King’s Stand Stakes, getting within three quarters of a length in second, while Equiano came eighth in the same race. came eighth in the same race.
Prime Defender and Ancien Regime finished fifth and sixth to African Rose in last year’s Ladbrokes Sprint Club. finished fifth and sixth to African Rose in last year’s Ladbrokes Sprint Club.
Prime Defender, after winning the Listed Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster in March, ran in the KrisFlyer International Sprint in Singapore in May but came home last of 13.
Ancien Regime made his Godolphin and seasonal debut when second in the Group Three Chipcase Stakes at Newcastle last month.
Stephen Wallis, Managing Director of Newmarket Racecourses., said today: “This is a tremendous potential line-up for the Darley July Cup - the Ashes are not going to be over in Wales, they are going to be in the east of England at Newmarket!”
A total of 17 juveniles have been declared for the seven-furlong £80,000 Group Two Meydan Superlative Stakes (2pm), including Royal Ascot winner Big Audio, who scored in the Chesham Stakes and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Beethoven who was fourth in the same race., who scored in the Chesham Stakes and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Beethoven who was fourth in the same race.
This year’s £100,000 Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup (2.35pm) looks set to be another thrilling renewal, with 38 horses entered for the seven-furlong heritage handicap. The weights are likely to be headed by Laa Rayb from Mark Johnston’s Yorkshire yard. from Mark Johnston’s Yorkshire yard.
Friday’s action starts with the equally competitive £40,000 Premier Travel Handicap (1.30pm, 36 entries) and the seven-race card also includes the £15,000 NGK Spark Plugs EBF Fillies’ Maiden (3.45pm, 21 entries), the £20,000 Weatherbys Nursery Handicap (4.20pm, 25 entries), and the £15,000 Egerton House Stables Handicap (4.55pm, 33 entries).
