Wednesday, 27 July 2011

Goodwood : Veuve Cliquot Preview


Trainer John Quinn is hoping Red Duke's 3lb penalty does not prove a hindrance to success in the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday.

The promising colt has to give weight to all his rivals, having already won a Group Two race in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket's July meeting, when he beat Chandlery by a neck.


Quinn said: "He's in good form and we're very happy with him. He's very well and we're hoping for a good run, but obviously the penalty is a concern. He's won over the trip so that's good thing and the same rider (Kieren Fallon) back on is a plus, so we're hopeful."

There is another North Yorkshire-trained runner in the shape of Mark Johnston's Elkhart, who opened his account over seven furlongs at Beverley early this month.

The Middleham handler said: "It's a big jump up in class for him but we've got a good record in the race. Darryll Holland rode him at Beverley and said straight away afterwards that we should go to the Vintage, so that's what we're doing. We'll see how he gets on."

Chandlery's trainer Richard Hannon is responsible for four of the seven runners as he looks to follow-up last year's win in the race when he struck with King Torus.


"Chandlery won here first time out, but he looked to appreciate stepping up to seven furlongs in the Superlative at Newmarket, and we have a 3lb pull with Red Duke for a neck beating, so he has an obvious chance. He is a lovely colt," he told www.richardhannonracing.tv.

"Rockinante was impressive when making a winning debut at Newmarket and, while the second (Burano) was beaten last weekend, we like ours. Similarly, Red Seventy has done nothing wrong, winning both his races in some style. He was just warming up at the end at Ascot and being by Sakhee, should benefit from stepping up in trip.

"Minal was beaten by Red Seventy at Salisbury, but he finally broke his maiden at Lingfield and deserves a crack at some black type."


Clive Cox won this race with Xtension in 2009 and he is expecting a bold show from Lethal Force, saying: "I'm very pleased he confirmed what we thought he was at home by running a blinder in the Coventry (fourth to Power). He's continued growing and developing and that's why we've given him time before his next run. We're very much looking forward to him running."