Friday’s Gordon Richards S. (Eng-G3) at Sandown has been a firm favorite of
Sir Michael Stoute since the early part of his career, and his record-setting
seven successes have included the likes of Singspiel. Whether Saeed Suhail’s
progressive Cannock Chase (Lemon Drop Kid) can measure up to that kind of
standard remains to be seen, but he looked a typical Freemason Lodge rank-riser
when winning the Tercentenary S. (Eng-G3) over this 10-furlong trip at Royal
Ascot when last seen.
“He didn’t run after Royal Ascot, as he had a few minor problems but Sir
Michael Stoute just tidied them up before pressing on with him,” the owner’s
racing manager Bruce Raymond told PA Sport. “If he had been with any other
trainer they would have probably pressed on with him before now, but Sir Michael
felt he would be better as a four-year old. He has filled out and grown well
over the off-season and I think potentially he is a very good horse. I don’t
think the quick ground would be an issue for him, as Sir Michael wouldn’t be
running him if he thought it was a problem.”
Third behind Cannock Chase at the Royal meeting was Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al
Maktoum’s Postponed (Dubawi), who is another representing one of Newmarket’s
longstanding premier trainers in Luca Cumani. Upping his game subsequently when
conquering York’s Great Voltigeur S. (Eng-G2) over 12 furlongs in August, the
bay reverts to this intermediate trip to kick off what promises to be a
profitable campaign.
John Gosden is hoping for rain for the talented and recently-gelded Western
Hymn (High Chaparral), who showed his liking for a testing surface when scoring
in the Classic Trial (Eng-G3) on this card 12 months ago and also in the Prix
Eugene Adam (Fr-G2) in July.
“Western Hymn is in good order and we are very happy with him,” Gosden told
PA Sport. “This race has been the plan since his last run. We would appreciate a
bit of rain, but I don’t think we are going to get it.”
With the French raider Grey Lion (Galileo) now absent, the latest renewal of
the Sandown Classic Trial has been robbed of some excitement even allowing for
the presence of last year’s Autumn S. (Eng-G3) winner Commemorative (Zamindar).
Khalid Abdullah’s strong-galloping chestnut found the Santa Anita circuit too
sharp when seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at the end of October
and should benefit from a step up in trip and return to a more suitable track as
he bids to defy a penalty for his Newmarket exploits.
“Commemorative has done well over the winter and is a big horse now,” trainer
Charlie Hills commented. “As a result it’s taken a long time to get him fit,
although he worked well with (last weekend’s Greenham S. [Eng-G3] winner)
Muhaarar (Oasis Dream) at Lingfield a couple of weeks ago. This is also a
fact-finding mission regarding his trip.”
Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor’s Cape Clear Island (Fastnet
Rock) may be a sighter for Aidan O’Brien as he weighs up the Derby (Eng-G1)
contenders, but he may be more than that if he can build on his return success
in Newmarket’s £200,000 Tattersalls Millions
Three-Year-Old Trophy eight days ago, while seven-times winning trainer Gosden
relies on Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Snoano (Nayef). He was fifth in
what was probably a below-par edition of Doncaster’s Racing Post Trophy (Eng-G1)
in October and needs to show he can handle this livelier surface.
With half of the field — which is also the better half — assembled for
Friday’s Sandown Mile (Eng-G2) already gelded, this division, which boasts no
Kingman or the like, is desperately lacking a star turn and so the way open for
some lesser lights to enjoy the spotlight.
Best of this pack on last year’s form is Gary Douglas and Pat Breslin’s
Custom Cut (Notnowcato), the Desmond S. (Ire-G3), Strensall S. (Eng-G3) and Joel
S. (Eng-G2) winner who was one of several to highlight the expertise of his
conditioner David O’Meara in 2014. Soundly beaten when eighth on his last start
in the Queen Elizabeth II S. (Eng-G1) at Ascot on Champions Day, the
six-year-old is burdened with a penalty here alongside the Oettingen-Rennen
(Ger-G2) and Challenge S. (Eng-G2) scorer Here Comes When (Danehill Dancer).
Of the entires, Elaine Chivers and Potensis Bloodstock’s Shifting Power
(Compton Place) holds the most impressive form on the basis of his second in
last year’s Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) at the Curragh, but he has a
question mark over him following his latest eighth in Goodwood’s Thoroughbred S.
(Eng-G3) in August.
“We think Shifting Power has the ability to win a Group 1 this season and
this looks the perfect starting point,” trainer Richard Hannon said. “He was
probably three pounds short of the top grade last season, but he is a big colt
who needed to fill his frame and he did really well physically through the
winter. His form is rock-solid and, while he has been off since Goodwood, he has
done plenty and worked well for Hughesie on Tuesday and again did a sharp breeze
yesterday, so he is ready to roll.”
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