Doncaster Racecourse

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Racing Post Trophy
Saturday 27th October 2007

Group One Racing Post Trophy Has 19 Going Forward
23/10/07

The prestigious £200,000 Group One Racing Post Trophy (3.40pm), run over a mile at Doncaster on Saturday, October 27, has 19 high-class two-year-olds going forward at the five-day stage.

Roger Charlton is eyeing the final Group One prize of the British Flat season for the Khalid Abdulla-owned Fifteen Love, who followed a runner-up finish to Rio De La Plata on his debut at Newmarket in July with a brace of wins, most recently in a seven-furlong novice stakes at Salisbury on October 3.

Charlton revealed today: "Fifteen Love is well and could go to Doncaster but also has the option of the Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury, so we will consider what is in each race.

"The owner also has Confront in the Racing Post Trophy, so we will weigh up the options before making a decision. I would favour the Racing Post Trophy because it is worth about five or six times more than the Horris Hill but we will see what the owner wants to do."

The Point Given colt notched a comfortable victory at Salisbury when drawing a length and a quarter clear of Collection, who subsequently franked the form when easily winning his maiden at Newcastle.

Charlton reported: "Fifteen Love is well and is in good form but he is going from a soft maiden to a soft novice race to a Group race, so he is very unproven.

"I am pleased that the Salisbury runner-up has won nicely since but that makes Fifteen Love a 95-plus horse when really he needs to be a 110-plus horse, so it is unknown really.

"Having said that, I have always liked him and at some stage you have to put your head above the parapet and fire at decent races."

Abdulla has seen his colours carried to victory four times previously in the Racing Post Trophy with Alphabatim (1983), Bakharoff (1985), Armiger (1992) and American Post (2003), and the owner also has the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Confront remaining at the five-day stage.

The Nayef colt landed the Ascot Annual Badgeholders’ Hyperion Conditions Stakes over seven furlongs at Ascot on October 13. Stoute could also run emphatic Nottingham maiden winner Tajaaweed, owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum.

The Racing Post Trophy is a great pointer to Classic success and has been won by three subsequent Epsom Derby winners in the past six years, with High Chaparral (2001) and Motivator (2004) triumphant on Town Moor and last year’s winner Authorized landing the spoils at Newbury as Doncaster Racecourse underwent a stunning redevelopment. The 2002 renewal was won by the following year’s Ladbrokes St Leger hero, Brian Boru.

Aidan O’Brien has five entries, with the Montjeu colts King Of Rome and Frozen Fire the pair most likely to represent the Ballydoyle handler, who is bidding for a fifth win in the Group One contest following the victories of Saratoga Springs (1997), Aristotle (1999), High Chaparral (2001) and Brian Boru (2002).

King of Rome was the impressive winner of an extended seven-furlong Tipperary maiden on October 7, while Frozen Fire won his only start over seven furlongs at Gowran Park on August 8.

O’Brien also has Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes runner-up Achill Island engaged, as well as Alessandro Volta and Washington Irving.

Godolphin has two entries remaining - Ibn Khaldun and Iguazu Falls. The former has won three of four starts this term and completed a hat-trick of wins in fine style when taking the Group Three Deloitte Autumn Stakes over a mile at Ascot on October 13, by a length from Redolent.

Iguazu Falls chased home the Paul Cole-trained River Proud in the Group Three Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket on October 5.

Declaration Of War has Group One form in the bag having finished runner-up to Rio De La Plata in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on October 7, and could bid to give Peter Chapple-Hyam his third win in the Racing Post Trophy following Commander Collins in 1998 and Authorized last year.

Brian Meehan has engaged the high-class Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes hero City Leader - a half-brother to Commander Collins - while the John Gosden-trained Ridge Dance could attempt revenge after finishing fourth in that Ascot contest.

The remaining 19 also includes the Jessica Harrington-trained Group Two Beresford Stakes winner Curtain Call, Feared In Flight from the Barry Hills yard, the Sylvester Kirk-trained Art Master, Internationaldebut, trained by Danny Murphy, and Tiger Dream who may represent Kevin Ryan, successful in the race with Palace Episode two years ago.

The Racing Post Trophy is the highlight of a fantastic seven-race card that also features the Listed £28,000 Coral Stakes for two-year-olds over six furlongs.

LATEST GOING

The track at Doncaster is in great condition ahead of the Racing Post Trophy Meeting on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27.

Adam Waterworth, Managing Director at Doncaster Racecourse, said today: "The ground is currently good, good to soft in places. We had drying days over the weekend and it has been the same story today. It is expected to cloud over but no significant rain is forecast this week."

Art Master On Course for Racing Post Trophy
15/10/07

Upper Lambourn handler Sylvester Kirk is hoping to finish 2007 with a flourish by saddling the progressive Art Master in the £200,000 Racing Post Trophy, the final Group One race of the British Flat season, run over a mile at Doncaster on Saturday, October 27.

The son of Peintre Celebre, who broke his maiden tag with a ready three-length success on soft going at Leicester in July, failed to get competitive on quicker ground behind subsequent Group Two Urban-i Champagne Stakes victor McCartney in a mile Listed contest at Salisbury the following month, but got back to winning ways on the Polytrack at Kempton on October 6, with a decisive victory in a mile conditions event.

Sylvester Kirk revealed today: “The plan is to take Art Master to Doncaster for the Racing Post Trophy and hopefully we will get soft ground up there. His level of form may not be quite good enough for the race, but we’re hoping with suitable conditions it will be a big help.

“He did it very well at Kempton. They went a strong pace and he picked up well to score by a couple of lengths, going away at the end. He has come out of the race very well and is in good form.

“At Salisbury he didn’t run his race and we are putting that down to the fast ground. He was very free and that wasn’t his form. He won very nicely at Leicester on soft ground and that is what he wants. Art Master is a strong and very clean-winded horse and I think there is the potential for plenty of improvement with him.”

Kirk has three entries remaining in the Racing Post Trophy after the latest forfeit stage, although explained that Art Master was likely to be his sole runner in the Group One contest later this month.

He continued: “Ramona Chase unfortunately clipped heels and came down last time. He’s in great form now though and runs at the weekend, but he probably won’t go for the Racing Post Trophy. Opera Prince is a well-related sort and will go for a maiden next.”

A total of 63 horses went forward after the latest forfeit stage for the Racing Post Trophy, including the unbeaten Raven’s Pass, who slammed subsequent Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes victor City Leader by seven lengths in the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown on September 1.

Winker Watson, winner of all three starts this year, is one of nine remaining entries for Peter Chapple-Hyam, while the Jessica Harrington-trained Curtain Call has been confirmed as heading for the Racing Post Trophy, and is one of 19 Irish-trained entries still engaged.

Improving Curtain Call among 63 Remaining in Racing Post Trophy
10/10/07

Curtain Call will try and give his handler Jessica Harrington her first Group One success on the Flat in the £200,000 Racing Post Trophy, run over a mile for two-year-olds at Doncaster on Saturday, October 27.

The Sadler’s Wells colt, one of 63 horses still engaged after the latest forfeit stage for the final Group One contest of the British Flat season, showed promise on his first two runs in maiden company before finishing three lengths second to the unbeaten New Approach in the Group Two Futurity Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh on August 25, a neck in front of Henrythenavigator.

Returning to the Curragh over a mile in the Group Two Beresford Stakes on September 30, Curtain Call produced a most taking display, making every yard of the running under Fran Berry to record an easy four-length success over Domestic Fund, looking every inch a colt on the upgrade.

Trainer Jessica Harrington revealed today: "Curtain Call’s target is the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

"I was absolutely delighted with his win last time. His form in the Futurity was very good, finishing behind New Approach and in front of Henrythenavigator, and he was entitled to run very well in the Beresford.

"We always thought he would improve with the step up to a mile, and ground with ease suits him very well. He hasn’t run on quicker ground yet, but he’s not a heavy topped horse and is a very good mover, so I don’t think it would be a problem.

"Curtain Call seems grand now and has been cantering around for the last few days without a bother on him. The Racing Post Trophy is the logical step now he has won a Group Two."

Looking ahead to next year, Harrington is hoping that her charge develops into a top-class middle distance prospect, when he could be aimed at Epsom on the first Saturday in June.

The Co Kildare handler continued: "On his pedigree, he has to get a mile and a half. He’s by Sadler’s Wells out of a half-sister to Hernando. He may be a Derby horse in time - one can but dream!"

"I have only had one Group One runner on the Flat previously, in the 2005 Irish 1,000 Guineas (Jazz Princess, ninth to Saoire). I hope Fran Berry will be able to take the ride again on Curtain Call."

Curtain Call’s opposition in the Racing Post Trophy could include the John Gosden-trained Raven’s Pass, unbeaten in three starts to date and who looked right out of the top draw when slamming the Brian Meehan-trained City Leader by seven lengths in the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown on September 1.

The runner-up franked the form on his next start when taking the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot on September 29, defeating Achill Island, trained by Aidan O’Brien, by three-quarters of a length.

Aidan O’Brien is responsible for 16 of the 19 Irish entries. Frozen Fire, a comfortable winner on his debut at Gowran Park in August, and King Of Rome, a facile five and a half length scorer at Tipperary on October 7, both look horses of considerable potential, while the un-raced Tale Of Two Cities is a full brother to 2001 Racing Post Trophy winner and subsequent Derby hero High Chaparral.

Godolphin has three entries going forward, headed by Iguazu Falls, who chased home River Proud in the Group Three Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket on October 5. Impressive Ascot nursery winner Ibn Khaldun and Emmrooz, seventh in the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes last month, are also contenders.

Mark Johnston could run both McCartney, who ran away with the Group Two Urban-i Champagne Stakes at Doncaster on September 15, and Campanologist, who disappointed when unplaced behind City Leader in the Royal Lodge Stakes last time.

As well as City Leader, trainer Brian Meehan’s four entries also include Fast Company, who showed a devastating turn of foot to take the Group Three Acomb Stakes at York on August 21.

Peter Chapple-Hyam, successful in the Racing Post Trophy last year with subsequent Epsom Derby victor Authorized, has nine entries going forward, including the unbeaten Winker Watson, winner of the Group Two July Stakes last time out, and Declaration Of War, second to Rio De La Plata in the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on October 7. The Gone West colt Amaakin has yet to be seen on a racecourse but is already as low as 20/1 for next year’s 2,000 Guineas.

Other interesting contenders include the Henry Cecil-trained Kandahar Run, the ready winner of a mile Doncaster maiden in September, and Fifteen Love, trained by Roger Charlton, who landed a seven-furlong novice event in pleasing style at Salisbury on October 3.

TRACK IN GOOD ORDER AT DONCASTER

The track at Doncaster is in great condition ahead of the Racing Post Trophy Meeting on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27.

David Williams, Estates Manager at Doncaster Racecourse, said: "The ground has recovered very well after the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival.

"There is an excellent covering of grass and the track is in good order. The response from owners and trainers was second to none and we are now looking forward to the Racing Post Trophy."