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Aga Khan’s French Raiders Among Fantastic Park Stakes Entries
23/07/10

The £160,000 Group Two Park Stakes takes place over seven furlongs at the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster on Saturday, September 11, and has attracted a fantastic entry of 53, including the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained pair of Varenar and Dalghar from France. With no penalties applicable, the Park Stakes is run with Group One conditions.

Among a host of top notch entries is the Henry Cecil-trained Lord Shanakill
© racing-images.co.uk

Varenar, who along with Dalghar is owned by the Aga Khan, defeated the great Goldikova to land the Group One Prix de la Foret over the distance at Longchamp in October and was a close sixth in the six-furlong Darley July Cup at Newmarket last time.

The Chantilly-based trainer revealed today: “We are looking at the Park Stakes as a possibility for Varenar and Dalghar. They both like the seven-furlong distance.

“Varenar ran very well in the Darley July Cup but the jockey gave him a bad ride. He was inside and then went outside - we don’t know why. If he had stayed on the good pace, he could have been fourth.”

Dalghar, a handsome grey Anabaa half-brother to the champions Dalakhani and Daylami, won the seven-furlong Group Three Prix du Palais-Royal at Longchamp on June 5. The lightly-raced four-year-old then contested the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and faded in the closing stages to finish fifth behind Goldikova.

De Royer-Dupre continued: “Dalghar ran well in the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot but the mile was too long for him. Next, he will run at Goodwood in the Group Two Betfair Cup over seven furlongs. Afterwards we will look at Doncaster and decide whether we go with Dalghar or Varenar.

“If the ground is soft, it is not a problem for Varenar, he can go on all ground. For Dalghar, I prefer firmer going. Dalghar has a very nice pedigree and is a good looking horse. He has not had many races, he is fresh and we hope for improvement.”

The race is also on the agenda for Australian-trained Group One winner Alverta, who is stationed at Abington Place in Newmarket and has the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville as her next target before a planned tilt at the Park Stakes, followed by the Group One Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.

Trained by Paul Messara, the seven-year-old mare landed the Group One Coolmore Classic over an extended seven furlongs in March before travelling to England for the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, in which she failed to fire. Alverta posted a career best effort on her latest start however, when a length third to Starspangledbanner in the Group One Darley July Cup.

Also among a host of top notch entries is the Henry Cecil-trained Lord Shanakill, who captured the Group One Prix Jean Prat last term and saw off Dunelight to win a Listed contest at Chester on July 10, while the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Main Aim has won the past two renewals of the Group Three Timeform Jury Stakes at Haydock.

Arcano (right)
© racing-images.co.uk

Richard Hannon’s triple Group One-winning miler Paco Boy, beaten only a neck by Goldikova in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes last time, has been engaged, while Chris Wall may run Group Two totesport.com Summer Mile hero Premio Loco.

Also entered are three of last season’s leading juvenile colts, Arcano, Beethoven and Awzaan.

The Brian Meehan-trained Group One Prix Morny winner Arcano was last seen finishing third behind Dick Turpin and Canford Cliffs in the Group Three Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April.

Beethoven landed the Group One Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket in October for trainer Aidan O’Brien, who has also engaged recent Group Three Minstrel Stakes winner Air Chief Marshal and Emperor Claudius, unbeaten in three starts this season.

The Mark Johnston-trained Awzaan won the Group One Middle Park Stakes in an unbeaten two-year-old campaign before disappointing on his only start this term in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.

Johnston has also entered, among others, Group Three Jersey Stakes heroine Rainfall, who was a fine third to Music Show in the Group One Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival, as well as St Moritz, who saw off Palace Moon to win the Bunbury Cup at the same meeting.

The Jeremy Noseda-trained Arabian Gleam was denied a hat-trick of Park Stakes wins last year when third behind the Eddie Lynam-trained Duff, who held the Brian Meehan-trained Cat Junior by a neck. Arabian Gleam went on to win the Group Two Challenge Stakes at Newmarket in October.

Meehan could also saddle last season’s Group Two Lowther Stakes heroine Lady Of The Desert, while Serious Attitude, winner of the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes in 2008, has been entered by trainer Rae Guest.

Godolphin could be represented by any of eight entries, all from the Saeed bin Suroor stable, including Delegator, runner-up to Sea The Stars in the 2009 renewal of the 2,000 Guineas and last year’s Group Two Champagne Stakes winner Poet’s Voice.