 |
|
|
|
|
Champions’ Day 2010 |
| Tweet |
racing news /
Tremendous Champions’ Day in Prospect Following Final Declaration Stage 14/10/10
The countdown to Champions’ Day is now almost complete following the final declaration stage for the highest-class raceday in Britain on Saturday, 16th October at Newmarket, which features six Group races, plus one of the season’s most valuable handicaps.
 |
A total of 11 runners will go to post in the richest race of the afternoon, the £376,500 Group One Emirates Airline Champion Stakes (3.00pm), including last year’s victor Twice Over and two high-class contenders from France, the Group One scorers Fuisse and Vision d’Etat.
Michael Jarvis sent out Rakti to a memorable success in the 2003 Champion Stakes and is represented this year by Sri Putra, a Group Three winner over the course and distance in the Weatherbys Bloodstock Racecard Earl of Sefton Stakes on 15th April. The son of Oasis Dream has posted some high-class efforts in 2010, most notably when the half-length second to Twice Over in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park in July. His most recent outing came in the Group Two International Bosphorus Cup at Veliefendi, Turkey, on 5th September when he was the runner-up to Indian Days.
Jarvis said today: “If we ignore his moderate run in Turkey last time, then his form this season has been good.
“We have fitted him with blinkers which we hope will give him an edge and, fingers crossed, there will be a good strong pace.
“I think a mile and a quarter run at a decent pace is his optimum trip.”
Further spice is added to the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes by Godolphin’s Poet’s Voice, who was supplemented for the contest on Monday and has won his last two starts in the Group Two Celebration Mile at Goodwood and the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, as well as the Marco Botti-trained Gitano Hernando, a Grade One winner in the USA last year and a comfortable winner of the Group Three Diamond Stakes on the all-weather at Dundalk on 1st October.
Seldom has a race been so eagerly anticipated as the £317,200 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes for which six horses go to post including the Henry Cecil-trained Frankel, one of the most exciting horses to have emerged from Warren Place in many a year and last seen out when the breathtaking 10-length winner of the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot on 25th September. If that was not exciting enough, the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes will also feature the David Simcock-trained Dream Ahead, who has recorded two triumphs in Group One company already in the Prix Morny at Deauville and most recently in the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on 1st October, when he was successful by nine lengths.
Godolphin will be represented by the unbeaten Saamidd, who was supplemented for the race this week and he also comes into the race unbeaten, having taken the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster on his latest start. Further interest is supplied by Glor Na Mara, who is from the yard of Jim Bolger, successful in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes for three years in a row between 2006 and 2008.
Cochabamba has proven herself a smart juvenile filly this term and bids for Group Two glory in the Rockfel Stakes (4.15pm) over seven furlongs.
Roger Teal’s charge struggled with the ground conditions (good to soft) and a strong head wind when sixth to Havant over the course and distance in the Group Three Sakhee Oh So Sharp Stakes on 1st October, but had previously finished runner-up to Theyskens’ Theory in the Group Three Prestige Stakes over the distance at Goodwood in August.
Theyskens’ Theory franked that form when a close third in the Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile, and Teal is hopeful that Cochabamba will show her true ability on Saturday with the Rowley Mile going currently described as good.
The Surrey trainer had his string in good form for the last Newmarket meeting. Steele Tango took second in the totesport.com Cambridgeshire and Surrey Star went down by a short-head in the Group Three Somerville Tattersall Stakes.
Teal revealed this morning: “I think the ground didn’t suit Cochabamba last time. I know the going was officially soft at Goodwood the time before but they were just kicking the top off that day - it was more testing last time at Newmarket.
“There was a very strong wind too and she was stuck on the outside taking the brunt of it. It just wasn’t her day. She normally has a better kick than that but under those conditions fillies sometime curl up a bit and she just couldn’t pick up. Don’t get me wrong, the winner won very well but I think we would have been closer under different conditions.
“I said to Jack (Mitchell) to try and get her a bit of cover from her outside draw but that’s easier said than done. She’s drawn widest of all in 12 this time so it’s not ideal again.
“I haven’t done an awful lot with her since her last run. This time of year, the fillies are turning in their coats so I’ve been trying to keep her a bit fresh. She’s not very big and doesn’t need a lot of galloping, so she hasn’t done any sparkling bits of work because she doesn’t need it. But she is pleasing us and seems in good heart.”
Cochabamba faces 11 rivals including the reopposing Sir Michael Stoute-trained Cape Dollar, the Richard Hannon-trained Date With Destiny and the Mick Channon-trained Sonning Rose, who were third, sixth and seventh respectively in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood. Date With Destiny is the only progeny of the late George Washington.
Champions’ Day gets underway at 1.50pm with the Group Two £90,000 Victor Chandler Challenge Stakes for which 14 go to post, including Godolphin’s Delegator, who beat all bar the mighty Sea The Stars in last season’s 2000 Guineas.
Completing the Champions’ Day line-up are the £160,000 totesport.com Cesarewitch (3.40pm) over two and a quarter miles which has a bumper field of 32, the £90,000 Group Two Pride Stakes (4.50pm) for which 13 high-class fillies and mares go to post and the concluding £57,000 Group Three Jockey Club Cup (5.25pm) for which the nine declarations include last year’s winner Akmal.
CHAMPIONS' DAY RACECARD
Saturday, 16th October, 2010
Time Race Prize Money Age Class Type Dist TV
1.50 Victor Chandler Challenge Stakes £90,000 3+yrs 1 Gp 2 7f Ch4/RUK
2.25 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes £317,200 2yrs 1 Gp 1 7f Ch4/RUK
3.00 Emirates Airline Champion Stakes £376,500 3+yrs 1 Gp 1 1m 2f Ch4/RUK
3.40 totesport.com Cesarewitch Handicap £160,000 3+yrs 2 Hcap 2m 2f Ch4/RUK
4.15 Rockfel Stakes £100,000 2yrs 1 Gp 2 7f RUK
4.50 Pride Stakes £90,000 3+yrs 1 Gp 2 1m 4f RUK
5.25 Jockey Club Cup £57,000 3+yrs 1 Gp 3 2m RUK
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY ON CHAMPIONS' DAY: £1,190,700
