St Leger

racing_news/

DFS Park Stakes Under Consideration for The Cheka
22/08/09

Trainer Eve Johnson-Houghton is considering letting her stable star The Cheka take his chance in Group Two DFS Park Stakes, one of the highlights of racing on the fourth and final day of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster, Saturday, September 12.

Entries for the prestigious seven-furlong contest closed early for the first time this year on July 21, with record prize-money of £160,000, as the Doncaster executive looks to advance the merits of the prestigious race, which it is hoped will one day attain Group One status.

In a promising juvenile campaign, The Cheka, who is owned by comedian Mel Smith in partnership with Anthony Pye-Jeary, blitzed to a 10-length victory on his debut in a novice stakes at Ascot last July and found only Sri Putra half a length too strong in the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown the following month.

A series of minor injuries forced the three-year-old Xaar colt to miss the first half of the season, but he made a winning return in a seven-furlong novice race at Newbury on July 17, when he flew home to beat Ashram by a neck.

Johnson-Houghton revealed today: “The DFS Park Stakes is a possibility for The Cheka as things stand. He’s definitely not going to Deauville for the Prix Quincey at the end of this month but the moment I make a definite plan for him, I am sure that he reads the newspapers and finds some reason not to go!

“I was absolutely delighted with his comeback at Newbury. He proved what I have always known, that his is a very good horse. He came out of that run fine but then he picked up a stone bruise and, as per normal, there are always never-ending niggles and problems with him - nothing is straightforward.

“I think that he has the pace to run well over seven furlongs, but he will be best over a mile in time. I dare not make any long-term plans for him but we could hopefully be looking at all of the top mile races next year.”

This year’s DFS Park Stakes looks set to be another superb renewal with dual Group One winner Paco Boy among the 49 entries remaining. Other notable contenders include Group One July Cup runner-up Main Aim, Group Two Betfair Cup scorer Finjaan, and Arabian Gleam, who is set to bid for a third success in the DFS Park Stakes after taking the spoils in 2007 and 2008.

TRIALS REVEAL CLUES TO LADBROKES ST LEGER

The trials season for the Ladbrokes St Leger is well underway and there have been some informative clues over the past fortnight.

Godolphin, successful with Classic Cliche (1995), Nedawi (1998), Mutafaweq (1999) and Rule Of Law (2004), looks to have another live contender on its hands in Kite Wood who has certainly proved his stamina with authoritative victories in the Group Three Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July and most recently the Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes over an extended mile and five furlongs at Newbury on August 15. The son of Galileo currently heads the market at 5/2 with Ladbrokes.

The Group Two Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur Stakes at York is one of the leading Ladbrokes St Leger trials, having thrown up the St Leger victor no less than nine times since 1986. This year’s renewal of the 12-furlong contest on August 18 went the way of Monitor Closely, who proved four and a half lengths too strong for Godolphin’s Mastery. Trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam, Monitor Closely does not currently hold an entry for the Ladbrokes St Leger but there is a £45,000 supplementary entry stage at the five-day confirmation stage on Monday, September 7, should connections wish to head to Town Moor on Saturday, September 12. In addition to Mastery, other Ladbrokes St Leger entries that ran in the Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur Stakes include Father Time (3rd), Above Average (5th), Alwaary (6th) and Harbinger (7th).

Another horse to have run at York this week who could head to Doncaster is Changingoftheguard, who was denied a clear run when a fast-finishing second in the valuable Ebor Handicap over a mile and six furlongs. The Montjeu colt, a 10/1 chance with Ladbrokes, is one of 14 entries from the Aidan O’Brien stable, which is seeking a fourth Ladbrokes St Leger victory following Milan (2001), Brian Boru (2003) and Scorpion (2005). The O’Brien-trained contingent also includes Age Of Aquarius, runner-up in the Group One Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp last time out and the 7/2 second favourite with Ladbrokes. Other possible challengers from Ireland include the John Oxx-trained Mourayan, who completed his Ladbrokes St Leger preparation when second in the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown on August 13.

Further Ladbrokes St Leger pointers could come in the Listed Windflower March Stakes, run over a mile and six furlongs at Goodwood on Saturday, August 29. Godolphin has indicated that Urban Poet, who rejoined the stable after a spell with Mark Johnston, is likely to run in this contest and could possibly be supplemented for the Ladbrokes St Leger depending on how he performs.

The next scratchings deadline for the Ladbrokes St Leger, the DFS Park Stakes and the DFS Champagne Stakes is on Tuesday, August 25, details of which will be revealed on Wednesday, August 26.