Yeats on for Gold Cup; Zarkava and Peeping Fawn goals
announced
Susan Magnier and Diane Nagle’s YEATS (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) on Friday headed
a field of 15 stayers remaining in Thursday’s Ascot Gold Cup (Eng-G1).
Successful in 2006 and 2007, the homebred seven-year-old may be joined by stable
companions SEPTIMUS (Sadler’s Wells) and HONOLULU (Ire) (Montjeu [Ire]) in the 2
1/2-mile feature, which could also include Khalid Abdullah’s unbeaten
four-year-old COASTAL PATH (Halling) from the Andre Fabre barn. Mountgrange
Stud’s Yorkshire Cup (Eng-G2) winner GEORDIELAND (Johann Quatz [Fr]) and
Rennstall Gestut Hachtsee’s Prix du Cadran (Fr-G1) scorer LE MIRACLE (Monsun),
second and third 12 months ago, respectively, look set for a return, while
Godolphin have left in the St Leger S. (Eng-G1) fourth REGAL FLUSH (Sakhee) and
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) third SAGARA (Sadler’s Wells).
Rookie trainer Simon Callaghan is hoping that Edward Kirtland’s FINALMENTE
(Kahyasi), winner of the Henry II S. (Eng-G2) on May 29, can improve on his
fourth to Yeats (Ire) last year.
“Everything is going to plan and we’ll head for the Gold Cup with Mick Kinane
set to ride,” Callaghan told PA Sport on Friday. “Obviously we are very hopeful,
although, as ever, it’ll be an extremely competitive race with the French horse
and Yeats in there. They will both be tough nuts to crack, but we feel our horse
has progressed from his win at Sandown and I think he’s getting better.”
Ascot’s clerk of the course, Chris Stickels, was Friday counting the cost of
heavy rainfall at the Berkshire venue.
“We were expecting five to six millimeters of rain, but got 11 overnight and
the going is good, with good-to-soft places,” he explained. “I’d be happy with
that at the moment as it removes the necessity to water at this time. Ideally,
we look to produce a mixture of good and good-to-firm going.”
Meanwhile, trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre ended speculation as to where His
Highness the Aga Khan’s unbeaten ZARKAVA (Zamindar) will run next when
committing to the Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1) at Longchamp. Despite initial
reluctance to tackle the mile-and-a-half contest before her ultimate goal of the
October 5 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the connections of the Poule d’Essai des
Pouliches (Fr-G1) and Prix de Diane (Fr-G1) winner have opted for the September
14 race instead of Deauville’s Prix de la Nonette (Fr-G3) over 10 furlongs on
August 24.
“I think going for the Prix de la Nonette would not be a good decision,
because there have been many times at the end of the Deauville meeting when the
ground has not been very good,” her conditioner said. “It’s too dangerous for a
filly like her, and I need to run in the Prix Vermeille as we don’t have any
other solution.”
Aidan O’Brien is set to saddle last year’s filly phenomenon PEEPING FAWN
(Danehill) in the June 28 Pretty Polly S. (Ire-G1) at The Curragh. Michael Tabor
and Susan Magnier’s four-year-old captured the race 12 months ago before adding
the Irish Oaks (Ire-G1), Nassau S. (Eng-G1) and Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-G1) to her
tally and is ready for her seasonal debut.
“She worked after racing at Leopardstown on Wednesday evening and the plan is
to possibly start her off in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh,” the Ballydoyle
conditioner told the Racing Post.