Thursday, 22 September 2011

Somerville Stakes Preview


Roger Varian is keen to make the most of what he hopes will be fast conditions as Farraaj steps up to Pattern company for the first time in the Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

A highly encouraging debut second at Sandown in July has been supplemented by a couple of victories, most recently scoring decisively back at Sandown just over a week ago.

Varian said: "He's done nothing wrong. He didn't get a hard race last week and has come out if quite well. I'm conscious we might lose the fast ground in October so we are turning him out again quite quickly, but he seems fresh well and I'm looking forward to running him."


Colm O'Donoghue partners Curragh maiden winner Crusade for Aidan O'Brien.

"He improved a lot from his first run at York and won nicely in the Curragh. Hopefully he can continue to progress," said O'Donoghue.

"This is a nice step up for him but hopefully he'll be up to it. Fast ground won't be a problem for him if that's how it ends up. He's a good-moving horse."

Following a string of fine efforts in defeat, Storming Bernard has eventually found the winning thread, opening his account in a Brighton maiden before following up in impressive fashion at Ayr a week ago.

His trainer, Alan Bailey, said: "It's a big step up for him from a novice race to a Group Three but he has been well in himself since Ayr and we'll see how he gets on. There's actually been a bit of rain around this morning, so it might end up being a bit softer than it is at the moment.

"We think he's an improving horse."