Ed Dunlop waits on weather for Snow Fairy
Ed Dunlop can already look back on his most high-profile season since the days of Ouija Board but hopes to add to his two Group One winners this year may rest on the weather.
Dunlop is planning an ambitious double Group One raid for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday. However, the going is likely to be the determining factor over whether Snow Fairy, the dual Oaks winner, and Native Khan, the yard’s leading juvenile, run.
Dunlop, speaking on his website, said: “I am pleased with Snow Fairy's condition and the intention is to take our chance in the Prix de l'Opera, but as with Native Khan, we are very much ground dependant.
“The going at Longchamp was good to soft on Saturday and they are talking of predominately dry weather through until Thursday, but there is then the prospect of rain and it could be a significant amount next Saturday, anything up to 16 millimetres, which would obviously be a big concern. We will need to reassess the weather situation on Thursday and make a decision on whether to travel but if we decide that the omens are not favourable we will keep the filly back for the Emirates Airlines Champion Stakes back here at Newmarket on October 16th.
"Similarly, Native Khan, who has done well since winning the Solario Stakes at Sandown, is one we want to run in the Prix Jean Luc Lagadere but again we are being governed by the ground and if we have to keep him at home too, he will be re-routed to the Dewhurst Stakes here on Champions Day."
The route for Sharnberry, who looked a filly of promise when she won a six-furlong maiden at Lingfield in August, could be the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Friday, but depends on a gallop tomorrow morning. “We like Sharnberry a lot and she has a choice of three entries at Newmarket this week - we can stick to six furlongs and go for gold in the Cheveley Park on Friday or step up to seven [furlongs] and head for either the Group Three Oh So Sharp Stakes the same afternoon or the valuable Tattersalls Million 24 hours later.”
“However, we will see how she works on Tuesday before making up our minds. She has had a nice break since Lingfield and if we think that she needs a bit longer we could keep her back for the Listed Rockingham Stakes the following Saturday at York, where she would have to take on the colts.”
One Dunlop horse who will not be running again is Habaayib, the winner of the Group Three Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, who has been retired to the paddocks. “Habaayib did not fire on the soft ground in the October Stakes at Ascot on Saturday and we have decided to draw stumps. She did her job last year and will make a lovely broodmare,” Dunlop said.
While there will be a strong British contingent heading to Paris this weekend, Sahpresa Pass could pass them en route to a defence of her crown in the Group One Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.
Robert Collet's mare, a Group Three winner at Longchamp earlier this month, is one of 16 six-day confirmations that also includes Spacious and Strawberrydaiquiri – third and fourth in last year’s renewal - Aviate, Music Show and Rainfall, a winner at Ascot on Saturday. There could also be a second French-trained runner with Liliside, from the Francois Rohaut yard. The filly, disqualified from first place in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp in May, was off the track between early June and the beginning of September when she won a one-mile Listed race at Longchamp.
John Gosden has won the totesport Cambridgeshire twice in the last three years and all three of his winners – Halling (1994), Pipedreamer (2007) and Tazeez (2008) – were improving types who went on to make their mark at Pattern level. Nationalism, one of three possible runners for the trainer and the 79 acceptors, seems to have a similar profile. Unraced as a two-year-old, the Pivotal colt has progressed with each of his four runs this season, culminating with a win in a nine-furlong handicap at Goodwood earlier this month.
Wootton Basset is among 42 still left in totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar but Richard, having already banked nearly £350,000 with victories in two similar races, is expected to run the colt in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on Sunday instead.
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