Thursday 1st October 2009
Million thriller in prospect
A TOTAL of 23 juveniles have been declared for the Tattersalls Timeform Million (2.25pm), run over seven furlongs on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile on Saturday, 2nd October.
Now in its second year, the Tattersalls Timeform Million is the richest race for two-year-olds in Britain with a guaranteed value of £1,000,000 and is restricted to horses which were catalogued in Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales of 2008.
Among this year’s 23 declarations is Group One Phoenix Stakes hero Alfred Nobel, who is one of two runners from the Aidan O’Brien stable along with Dynasty, the joint most expensive runner who cost 300,000 guineas.
The inaugural Tattersalls Timeform Million went to the John Gosden-trained Donativum, who subsequently captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on his next start. This year Gosden supplies two runners in the shape of Kona Coast and Meezaan, who will be making his debut in the contest.
Society Rock, trained in Newmarket by James Fanshawe, has already scooped a valuable prize having landed the £250,000 Tattersalls Timeform Sprint over six furlongs on the Rowley Mile a fortnight ago when he proved a head too strong for the Mark Johnston-trained Take Ten, who will re-oppose on Saturday along with the fourth-placed Saboteur.
Saboteur is one of four runners from the Godolphin stable along with the Listed-placed Atlantis Star, Bab Al Shams and Golden Shaheen.
Richard Hannon is renowned for his targeting of sales races and the Marlborough handler is represented by Magnus Thrax, a Chepstow maiden winner in August.
Another interesting contender is the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Markazzi, a facile maiden winner at Leicester last month who along with Dynasty cost 300,000 guineas.
Saturday’s card at Newmarket on Saturday kicks off with the Tattersalls Timeform Fillies’ 800 (1.50pm) which is also run over seven furlongs and restricted to juvenile fillies catalogued in Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales of 2008.
Aidan O’Brien is also represented in this contest, worth a guaranteed £800,000 and the most valuable race for fillies of any age in Europe, with Lillie Langtry, successful in the Group Two Debutante Stakes at Leopardstown in August.
Godolphin run maiden winner Siyaadah while Richard Hannon saddles the unraced Sunarise.
Paul Cole supplies the most expensive runner in the Tattersalls Timeform Fillies’ 800, the 400,000 guineas purchase Pink Symphony, a Montjeu three-part sister to Fantasia who was beaten a nose on her latest start in a Newmarket maiden in August.
Form from the £250,000 Tattersalls Timeform Sprint is represented by Jira, who finished third for Clive Brittain and the Richard Fahey-trained Cracking Lass, who stayed on well to be fifth in that contest.
Jimmy George, Marketing Director at Tattersalls, commented: “We are obviously thrilled to see horses of the calibre of Alfred Nobel lining up for Tattersalls Timeform Million while Society Rock is sure to have his supporters after his recent success in the £250,000 Tattersalls Timeform Sprint.
“The Tattersalls Timeform Fillies’ 800 also promises to be an outstanding contest and again we are pleased to have received the support of so many of the major stables.
“Donativum’s subsequent Breeders’ Cup success last season was the perfect start for the Tattersalls Timeform Million and we are looking forward to another cracking race this year.”
