York Racecourse

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Blue Bajan Bids for Group Two Glory in Skybet York Stakes
27/07/07

Tough and consistent five-year-old Blue Bajan will try and record his first success in Pattern company in the £100,000 Group Two Skybet York Stakes (3.15pm), run over an extended 10 furlongs at York this Saturday, July 28.

The son of Montjeu has performed with great credit this year since being stepped up in class, just losing out to Maraahel in the Group Three Huxley Stakes at Chester in May, running a close fifth behind the same rival in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot the following month, and most recently finishing third in the Listed Gala Stakes at Sandown on July 6.

Trainer Andy Turnell said today: “We have had the Skybet York Stakes in mind for Blue Bajan for some time now. His owners live near York and wanted to go for such a valuable prize.

“His last race turned into a sprint and wasn’t really run to suit. He quickened up quite well, just not as well as the other two, but they pulled clear of the rest. Michael [Hills] got off him and said it was like a six-furlong race.

“Blue Bajan has run and won on soft before, however I would prefer better ground for him. He has come out of his last race well though, and I’m very happy with him. He’s fit and ready to run and the trip will be fine.

“On the right day, we think he is capable of landing a Group race. Adrian Nicholls will ride on Saturday and he was second in the Cambridgeshire (in 2006) on him.”

Blue Bajan will certainly be tested in Saturday’s contest, with his seven rivals headed by Eagle Mountain, runner-up to Authorized in the Epsom Derby on June 2, representing the powerful Ballydoyle stable of Aidan O’Brien.

Take A Bow and Mashaahed, first and third in the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on May 31, Godolphin duo Winged Cupid and Stage Gift plus Charlie Tokyo, stepping up in class after landing the John Smith’s Cup at York on July 14, will also provide stern opposition. The field is completed by Mango Mischief, a seven-length Listed scorer on soft ground at Newcastle on June 28.

Ex-jump jockey Tom Dascombe is making a name for himself as an up-and-coming trainer and three-year-old filly Shawhill is set to represent the Lambourn-based handler at York in the £35,000 skybet.com Silver Cup (2.40pm), a Listed handicap run over 14 furlongs.

Shawhill was claimed for £17,000 from Alex Hales’ stable after winning over 10 furlongs at Windsor in April, and has done her new connections proud, finishing runner-up on three occasions - including in a Listed event over an extended 11 furlongs at Le Lion D’Angers in France on her penultimate start - before running eighth in a similar event at Longchamp on her most recent outing on July 14.

Tom Dascombe said today: “Things did not go to plan last time out in France - the jockey did not give the filly a very inspired ride! Shawhill seems really well now. Although she has had a few races in a short space of time, she’s as tough as anything and looks well.

“I think the step up to 14 furlongs will definitely suit her. She wants a trip and is bred for it. Over a mile and a half, she has just been taken off her feet a bit. The ground will be more testing than she has run on before but she should love it - both her action and pedigree suggest testing ground will be ideal.

“She looks like she is improving, and if her handicap mark is fair, which I think it is, then she has a great chance. Everything else in the race has to give her at least a stone - the top horses have to give her nearly two stone. That’s a huge weight allowance and if she is in the kind of form I think she is, she has to go close.”

Seven runners have been declared for the skybet.com Silver Cup, including German challenger El Tango, trained by Peter Schiergen and the winner of a two-mile heavy ground Listed event at Hamburg on June 26. The George Moore-trained Macorville, narrowly defeated in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on June 30, and admirable 11-year-old The Whistling Teal, trained by Geoff Wragg, are also in opposition.