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Middle Park Stakes 2009 |
Arctic Looking to Blast Rivals in Shadwell Middle Park Stakes
29/09/09
Arctic is poised to defend his unbeaten record in a hot renewal of the £183,400 Group One Shadwell Middle Park Stakes (3.05pm) at Newmarket on Friday, 2nd October, day two of the three-day totesport.com Cambridgeshire meeting.
The Tracey Collins-trained colt was supplemented for the historic event at a cost of £15,000 on Saturday.
Arctic slammed Air Chief Marshall by four and a half lengths when notching a three-timer on heavy ground in the Group Three Go And Go Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh on 30th August.
That victory came over the Shadwell Middle Park distance of six furlongs, the Shamardal colt having shown good speed to notch impressive wins over five furlongs on his first two starts at Bellewstown and the Curragh.
Collins revealed this morning: “Arctic is in good order and he is on track to head over for the Shadwell Middle Park on Friday. He is an improving horse, so we were pleased with his last win, and the trip should be ideal.
“He is a horse that handles most conditions and, although his last two wins have been on heavy, I’d say he would quite possibly be a better horse on better ground. He won his maiden on faster ground, so he seems to handle anything.
“It is a Group One race and there are some serious horses in it. It is great to have a horse going there with a realistic chance but it is a Group One at the end of the day.
“We’re hoping for a big run at Newmarket and then we’ll see how he comes out of the race before deciding on future plans.”
Arctic is one of nine high-class colts going forward for the prestigious Group One contest, five of which are trained in Ireland.
Aidan O’Brien has a quartet headed by Group One Phoenix Stakes winner Alfred Nobel. Also among the Ballydoyle contingent are Air Chief Marshall, the Group One-placed Beethoven and Reggae Dancer.
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The home defence includes a quartet of highly-rated Group Two winners, Awzaan, Showcasing, Radiohead and Poet’s Voice.
Mill Reef Stakes winner Awzaan, trained by Mark Johnston, is seeking to add a fourth victory to an unblemished record, while the John Gosden-trained Showcasing steps up to Group One company following a fine victory in the Gimcrack Stakes at York.
The Brian Meehan-trained Radiohead, successful in the five-furlong Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and third to seasoned sprinters in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York, is eyeing revenge after finishing fourth to Awzaan in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury last month.
Godolphin looks to Poet’s Voice, who defeated Viscount Nelson to win the seven-furlong Champagne Stakes at Doncaster on September 12.
Friday’s excellent card at Newmarket on Friday features a Group One double-header with the £170,000 Electrolux Cheveley Park Stakes (2.30pm) for two-year-old fillies over six furlongs taking place alongside the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes.
GOOD-TO-FIRM GROUND ON THE ROWLEY MILE
‘We’re watering to maintain’ – Prosser
MICHAEL PROSSER, Director of Racing at Newmarket, is more than satisfied with the ground on the Rowley Mile ahead of the three-day Cambridgeshire meeting, which starts this Thursday, 1st October.
Having walked the track on Monday, Prosser stated at 4.30pm: “The ground is currently good-to-firm and we’ve applied 8millimetres of water on Monday. The going stick reading is 8.5.
“We’ve watered extensively through September. Indeed, in the last fortnight we’ve applied four and a half inches. As a result, the course is in excellent condition and I am more than happy with it.
“Weather-wise, the long-term forecast indicates that we will stay largely dry with any rainfall negligible in nature. Temperatures will be cooler from Wednesday onwards and more in keeping with seasonal averages.”
