Thoroughbred Snow Fairy all set to win the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes
Thoroughbred trainer Ed Dunlop withdrew Snow Fairy from the Darley Yorkshire Oaks due to the inappropriate ground conditions at the racetrack. Earlier, Snow Fairy was taken out from the Prix Jean Romanet in France due to some technical issues.
The Darley Yorkshire Oaks is a Grade 1 race.
The flat race is run over a distance of one mile and four furlongs in August at the racetrack in York each year.
Prix Jean Romanet is a Grade 1 race as well, held at the race track at Deauville, France, every year in August, over a distance of one and a quarter of a mile.
However, Ed Dunlop was not aware of a very significant fact that if a trainer declares that a thoroughbred would compete in a certain race and if the thoroughbred does not compete for any reason, than the thoroughbred is not permitted to compete in any upcoming
race for a period of eight days.
Had Ed Dunlop been aware of this rule, he might have taken his decisions a little differently.
Although Ed Dunlop was shocked and a bit miffed at the revelation of this rule, he has come to terms with it.
In a press release regarding this rule, Ed Dunlop commented, "From our personal perspective, it was frustrating but it has brought it to light and the fact that French trainers are keen to have the rule removed is pleasing. It is a shame that it happened,
but it is time to move on".
Speculating on the withdrawal from these races, Ed Dunlop said, "We were going to run in York or France but that opportunity has disappeared now and there are very few fillies' races".
Now Ed Dunlop has decided that Snow Fairy would be competing in the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes, to be held this Saturday on 27th of August, 2011.
"After what has happened this week, it seems to be the ideal race for her", said Ed Dunlop, reflecting on his choice of race for Snow Fairy to compete in this fall.
The Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes is a Grade 1 race, an open race which spans a distance of one mile and two furlongs.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Cape Blanco had won the Irish Champion Stakes last year in approximately two hours and three minutes.
Ed Dunlop is very hopeful about the upcoming race on Saturday and he believes that Snow fairy is well trained and fully equipped to not only compete but win the Irish Campion Stakes.
His only concern is the ground conditions on the day of the race. Hopefully all his fears will vanish once the day of the race arrives and Snow fairy charges across the racetrack.
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