Thursday 7th May 2009
Sprint star among 2009 Darley July Cup entry
MARCHAND D'OR, who won the Darley July Cup in such thrilling last year, is among a 69-strong entry for the £400,000 Group Onel, which will take place on the July Course on Friday, July 10.
Run over six furlongs, the Darley July Cup is one of the three British legs of the Global Sprint Challenge alongside the King’s Stand Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Among this year’s entry are possible starters from Australia, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, South Africa and the USA, alongside the very best home-trained sprinters.
Marchand D’Or became the latest winner of the race to be subsequently crowned European champion sprinter. And the Freddie Head-trained gelding is a possible starter again alongside African Rose, trained by his sister Criquette Head-Maarek who won the July Cup in 1996 with Anabaa. African Rose is also a Group One winner, having taken the Sprint Cup at Doncaster in September.
Head-Maarek revealed today: “The Darley July Cup could be a potential race for African Rose. She will hopefully be making her seasonal reappearance over seven furlongs at Longchamp at the end of this month and we will see how she gets on there before deciding where to go with her.
“She’s won over both six and seven furlongs and she has the speed to get the lesser trip. We are starting her off over seven because I think it looks easier for her at this time of the season.
“The stiff six furlongs of the July Course will suit her well because you really have to travel up the hill. She has done very well over the winter and I have been pleased with her preparation for the coming season.
“I was delighted with her victory at Doncaster, where she stayed on well, and she’s a very game filly. She came back with a big joint from the Prix de la Foret and I think she must have walked on herself when leaving the stalls. It was nothing serious and she’s very well in herself at the moment.”
Other fascinating entries include prolific Greek winner Ialysos who is now with Luca Cumani and Hungarian superstar Overdose.
Globetrotting Australian superstar Takeover Target is also in the race a second entry from ‘Down Under’ Scenic Blast,
J J The Jet Plane is a dual Group One winner in his native South Africa and hails from the all-conquering yard of Mike de Kock, while the one entry from the USA is Cannonball.
