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Racing News |
Allegretto to Up the Tempo in National Express Doncaster Cup
05/09/08
Cheveley Park Stud’s stalwart stayer Allegretto is poised to attempt a family double in the £100,000 Group Two National Express Doncaster Cup at Doncaster on Friday, September 12, day three of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival.
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The Sir Michael Stoute-trained five-year-old flourished last season, capturing the Group Two Goodwood Cup as well as the Group One Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp, and the mare has shown signs of a return to winning ways on her last two outings when fourth in both the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June and the Group One Darley Yorkshire Oaks over an inadequate mile and a half at Newmarket on August 22.
Chris Richardson, Managing Director at Cheveley Park Stud, revealed today: “We hope that Allegretto will run in the National Express Doncaster Cup, all being well. She’s fine after her last run and worked nicely on Wednesday. She had a little foot abscess that slightly interrupted her programme up to her last race in the Yorkshire Oaks but she has been good since and hopefully will have come on for that run.
“It would be lovely if she could emulate her dam, she’s been remarkably consistent and last time she just needed an extra half mile. She’s in good form and the trip will suit.
“She’ll take her chance then progress from there and hopefully we can take in the Prix Royal Oak at Longchamp, which she won last year.”
Kent trainer John Best will be keeping a close eye on the action at Doncaster from Keeneland in Kentucky, where he will be seeking out yearlings to enhance his strong team for next season.
Best could run Sapphire Prince in the £15,000 Flak And Woods Nursery Handicap (1.30pm) over seven furlongs on Wednesday, September 10, the opening race of the 2008 Ladbrokes St Leger Festival. The colt, successful at Great Leighs in June, contested the Group Two Weatherbys Superlative Stakes at Newmarket on July 11.
The trainer reported: “Sapphire Prince could go in the Flak and Woods Nursery and this will probably be his last run of the season. He’s still a little bit weak and will be a much nicer three-year-old. He won well at Great Leighs, so I’m hoping he’ll be decent.”
Best may also saddle Relative Order for the £20,000 Heating And Ventilation News Handicap (3.45pm), also on Wednesday, September 10. The three-year-old has won twice at Newmarket and also finished third in a valuable seven-furlong handicap at Glorious Goodwood in July. The smart juvenile Square Eddie, due to run in the Group Three Sirenia Stakes at Kempton tomorrow, Saturday 6, could contest either the Construction Index Conditions Stakes (Wednesday, 3.10pm) or the Weatherbys Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (Thursday, 2.35pm)
Best continued: “Relative Order may run in the Flak And Woods Handicap. He’s in great form and won well last time but he wouldn’t run if it was too soft.
“Square Eddie is in the Weatherbys Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes and a conditions race but is more likely to contest the Sirenia Stakes tomorrow, so it just depends what happens there as to whether he goes to Doncaster. He may not run if he goes to Kempton. He won nicely at Salisbury last time.”
