Friday, 19 August 2011
York Preview
Biondetti arrives at York for the Strensall Stakes today via runs in Italy, America and France.
The Godolphin-owned three-year-old seeks to add this Group Three race to his top-level success at San Siro last October, after which he was fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on dirt at Churchill Downs. He was given a long time off after that before finishing second at Maisons-Laffitte a month ago.
"Biondetti had his first run for a while in France and he has come out of it well. I think that will have brought him on a fair bit," said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.
Trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni is happy with the horse, but admits it will be no easy ride.
"He is in good form at the moment but this won't be an easy race to win. I think that he will run a nice race, but he is coming up against some tough opposition." he told www.godolphin.com.
Connections of Tazahum are hoping for a bold show from the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt.
"He's a nice horse and won at Sandown where he did well to get up. He didn't like the ground at Ascot (when fifth to Pisco Sour) and it was probably too far in those conditions," said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
"We gave him a break and brought him back at Goodwood. In my opinion we gave him too much to do. He can be a bit bold so Richard's (Hills) instructions were to put him out the back. But they didn't go very fast and he was in a hopeless position."
Western Aristocrat was half a length ahead of Tazahum when third to Neebras at Goodwood. Trainer Jeremy Noseda expects the Mr Greeley colt to be better suited by conditions on the Knavesmire.
"It looks like being a race with plenty of depth but he should be suited by the extra furlong and can hopefully get competitive. He wasn't suited by Goodwood last time and York should suit him better," the Newmarket handler told www.jeremynoseda.com.
Kieren Fallon believes Hoof It is "something special" as he bids to make the step up from top drawer handicapper to Group One-winning sprinter in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes.
Trained not too far away from the Knavesmire by Mick Easterby, the four-year-old has made giant strides during his relatively short career, notably striking three times at York, and adding further colour to the gelding's story is the fact that he is part-owned by golfing pro Lee Westwood and his agent Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler.
Fallon said: "He has got a great turn of foot - great speed. The only problem I've had in the last three or four races that I've won on him was trying to find something to give us a lead. I couldn't believe how much improvement that there was from York to Goodwood."
Sole Power may not defend his crown.
A shock 100-1 winner last year, trainer Eddie Lynam fears the ground could be too soft for the four-year-old sprinter. The County Meath trainer is likely to make a late call on whether to let his stable star take his chance.
"There's a big doubt about him running because of the ground," said Lynam, speaking from Thursday evening's meeting at Tipperary.
Sole Power was around an 8-1 shot to land back-to-back victories in the Group One dash on the Knavesmire.
Kingsgate Native will bid to get a largely disappointing season back on track.
Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: "He'll keep appearing in these races and you never know, like all these sprinters, they seem to have their day. He's been disappointing this year but he might as well run and hopefully we can get some cover as that is what he needs.
"He was drawn one at Goodwood last time and with the extra stalls he ended up almost too wide, which was unfortunate."