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Iffraaj Too Good For Betfair Cup Rivals
01/08/06

Iffraaj, who races under the Godolphin umbrella for Sheikh Ahmed, proved far too strong for his rivals in today’s Betfair Cup, and could return to Goodwood later this month for the totesport Celebration Mile (Gr.2).

After performing a flying dismount from the winner, Frankie Dettori said: “I thought there would be a bit more pace in the race, but they strolled through the first three and I had to make my initiative first. Once I asked him to go I thought I’d better nick as much as I could because I knew they’d be flying at the finish.

“He went clear of the field and it was a good effort under a 4lb penalty. He was unlucky in the July Cup [when second to Les Arcs], but he comes into his own over seven furlongs and wasn’t stopping today so perhaps could see out a mile.”

Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager, said: “Seven furlongs is a good trip for him and he needs ground like this, so the Prix Maurice de Gheest [Gr.1 at Deauville] on Sunday was not an option because the ground in France can be terrible.

“It was a difficult decision to run him here rather than in the Sussex Stakes [tomorrow], but we never regret a winning decision.

“He’s in all suitable races between six furlongs and a mile between now and the end of the season, and we’re not thinking of anything definite. He’s in the Haydock Sprint Cup and Celebration Mile and we’ll talk to Sheikh Ahmed before making any decisions.”

Crisford did not discount a Breeders’ Cup Mile attempt with Iffraaj, and Stan James offer 8-1 about the colt for that race.

The opening day of the Glorious Goodwood Festival, Tuesday, August 1, features the £150,000 Group Two Betfair Cup (Lennox Stakes) and the £50,000 Group Three Betfair Molecomb Stakes, sponsored by the world's leading online betting exchange, Betfair.

The Group Two Betfair Cup was first run in 2000 when the John Gosden-trained Observatory took the prize en route to Group One success in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and last year's victor, Court Masterpiece, also went on to Group One victory in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.

The prestigious seven-furlong contest is the target for the progressive Kingsgate Prince, winner of the Listed Spring Cup over seven furlongs at Lingfield in March, and the Listed Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury on May 19.

Trainer John Best is no stranger to big-race engagements this term, having saddled Rising Cross to take the runner-up spot behind Alexandrova in the Vodafone Oaks in June.

The Maidstone handler said today: "I hope to take Kingsgate Prince to the Betfair Cup. We also have an entry at Deauville on August 6, so I'll discuss it with the owner, but at the moment the plan is to go to Goodwood."

Kingsgate Prince was last seen when just over two lengths third behind the highly-regarded Jeremy in the Group Three Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs at Royal Ascot, but was forced to miss his most recent engagement.

Best revealed: "He was due to run in the Hackwood Stakes on Saturday at Newbury, but he bruised his foot and wasn't quite right. He's almost completely better this morning though, so I don't see there being any problem because he was in great form coming up to that.

"I thought his Jersey Stakes effort was a tremendous run. He could have been second with a clearer run but unfortunately that's the way he has to be ridden so you rely on getting a clear passage and he didn't get it quite in time."

The three-year-old hold-up performer was previously third behind Racer Forever and Bouboulina in the Listed Vodafone Surrey Stakes over seven furlongs at Epsom on June 2, after uncharacteristically making the running.

The trainer reported: "At Epsom, he got too lit up before the race and then he couldn't get any cover and ran too free. Having said that, I was quite impressed with the way he stayed on in the closing stages considering he had run so free.

"The ground doesn't matter too much to him. It won't bother me if it's on the firm side although I suppose I'd rather have some give in the ground, just for the horse's health, but he doesn't mind it firm."

Nayyir, a standing dish at Goodwood, is another likely runner. The eight-year-old has won the Betfair Cup twice already - in 2002 and 2003 - and for the last two years has finished in the frame in the Group One Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes. He was fourth last year and second in 2004.

The Betfair Molecomb Stakes, first run in 1833 is one of the season's premier contests for speedy juveniles. The race has been won by stars such as the brilliant Marwell (1980), Risky (1993), and Carmine Lake (1996) and last year went the way of the Dandy Nicholls-trained Strike Up The Band.

Hambleton Lodge trainer Kevin Ryan, a near neighbour of Nicholls, has the Betfair Molecomb Stakes on the agenda for impressive York maiden winner Wi Dud.

The Elnadim colt caught the eye on his sole start at the Knavesmire on June 16, overcoming a tardy start in the five-furlong contest to outclass his rivals with a sweeping run that saw him emerge a length and a quarter victor over subsequent dual winner My Valerina.

Ryan revealed today: "Wi Dud could run in the Betfair Molecomb Stakes. He did it well at York first time out and is in good order. He's pretty uncomplicated where the ground is concerned so he shouldn't have any problems on that front.

"We'll have quite a few runners at the meeting and could have three in the Vodafone Stewards' Cup with Mutamared, Coleorton Dancer and Desert Commander.

"It's a lovely meeting and it's nice to have some nice horses to go down there. As usual, it'll be competitive racing and it's just good to have a winner at these big meetings."

Trainer William Haggas landed the Betfair Molecomb Stakes with Majestic Missile in 2003 and will bid for his second success in the prestigious five-furlong race with the imposing Conquest.

The powerful Invincible Spirit colt scored an easy maiden victory over the distance at Nottingham on July 8, and had previously finished a neck second to subsequent Weatherbys Super Sprint victor Elhamri in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Harry Herbert, managing director of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Ltd, whose Troy Syndicate owns the youngster, revealed today: "Conquest will go for the Betfair Molecomb Stakes providing he's in good shape, which he is at the moment. The Ascot form has been franked by Elhamri winning the Super Sprint and we'd like to think our horse is improving.

"We were thrilled with his Nottingham win. Compared to Ascot, it was a very low-level race and I guess he frightened off a lot of the opposition. He won as you would hope a horse rated like him would win and we were particularly pleased with the fact that he seemed to be growing up mentally."

Kieren Fallon had reported Conquest to be babyish following a defeat at Newbury on May 20, but Herbert believes the colt is learning fast.

He added: "He's got a great physique on him but he was just a bit babyish, which is something that Kieren said about him at Newbury on his second start, when he was very immature under pressure. We saw that improve in the Windsor Castle Stakes and then we saw it disappear completely, so we're hopeful that this horse is on an upward curve.

"If his physique is anything to go by then we know he's going the right way. He's got a bucket-load of speed and on that basis I think the five furlongs at Goodwood will really suit him.

"I don't think ground is an issue with him. He seems to go on both fast ground and ground with a bit of cut in it."

Herbert also revealed: "We could run Numeric in the cantorspreadfair.com Handicap on the Wednesday. He's in great form and ran well last time in a very competitive handicap at Haydock. He's a horse that is doing very well physically and we feel that one of these big handicaps will be within his grasp."

The five-day Glorious Goodwood Festival commences on Tuesday, August 1.