Delegator to take control at Newbury
With the hugely anticipated Ayr Gold Cup meeting on Saturday, racing fans are in for an added treat on Friday with some top-class action from both Ayr and Newbury.
Officially the Dubai Duty Free Cup is a Listed standard race, but the strength of runners declared gives this year’s renewal the look of Group race proportions.
The line-up includes Middle Park Stakes winner Awzaan and Betfair Cup winner Finjaan but the class-act in the field is Group One performer Delegator, who makes his belated seasonal reappearance for the Godolphin yard. It’s a bit of a worry that a runner-up in both the Guineas and the King George is dropping down to this level, but you would expect trainer Saeed Bin Suroor will be using this race as a prep-run for a crack at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot later this month. Followers of Delegator will be given confidence that he ran well fresh on his first start last season, beating Irish St Leger winner Sans Frontiers by two lengths, and has form lines that put him well clear on official ratings. The main danger should be three-year-old Yaa Wayl, who comes here bang in form after progressing through the handicaps and winning the Sky Bet City of York Stakes last time out.
Things haven’t exactly gone to plan for Monitor Closely since winning the Great Voltigeur last season. He disappointed when travelling well in the St Leger behind Mastery and has gone on to run adequately in his two starts this season. But his latest performance in France, which was his first run for Michael Bell, was encouraging despite the ground not suiting and he receives 7lbs from Campanologist in the Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial, who brings proven Group form to the table but may find the weight too much to carry. For the first time since the selection romped home at York everything seems to be falling into place with the ground drying out and the trip perfect; expect a big run.
The Ayr Bronze Cup will give punters a fair idea of how much the draw will play a part in the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday, and Coolminx looks well in at the weights. Richard Fahey’s colt seemed to be a Group horse in the making as a two-year-old but has struggled to find that sort of form this season and has dropped to a mark of 86. However, he was flying home at Newcastle when an unlucky second last time out, and champion jockey-to-be, Paul Hanagan, has chosen to ride him from a string of impressive Fahey runners.
On the same card, The Thrill Is Gone looks to have a fantastic chance to land his first Listed race for connections at the third time of asking in the Zenith Ltd Refurbishment Specialists Harry Rosebery Stakes. He has failed to see out the full five furlongs in his previous races, but up against some fully exposed sorts he could make all from the front.
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