Trainer John Gosden will send out CLOSE ALLIANCE (Gone West) and MAFAAZ (Medicean),
The form of that maiden race was upheld when runner-up Redding Colliery
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Jimmy Fortune has the return call aboard Close Alliance, who is out of a full
sister to multiple Grade 1 hero Aptitude (A.P. Indy), runner-up to Fusaichi
Pegasus in the 2000 Kentucky Derby.
The British-bred Mafaaz was purchased by Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum’s Shadwell
for $854,700 as a yearling at Tattersalls. He already boasts a victory at
Kempton, having won his debut in a seven-furlong maiden in September. The
third-place finisher that day, Evasive (Elusive Quality), won his next two
outings, including the Horris Hill S. (Eng-G3).
In his only subsequent start, Mafaaz finished a creditable fifth in the key
Tattersalls Timeform Million on turf, beaten about 2 1/4 lengths by future
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf star Donativum (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux). Moreover,
the runner-up Crowded House (Rainbow Quest) came back to romp in the prestigious
Racing Post Trophy (Eng-G1).
Richard Hills, who rode Mafaaz in the Tattersalls Timeform Million, will be
back aboard.
The third American Triple Crown nominee entered in the Kempton Challenge is
SPRING OF FAME (Grand Slam). A Pennsylvania-bred conditioned by Mikael
Magnusson, he was fifth in his debut on turf but is undefeated from two starts
on Polytrack. Spring of Fame landed a seven-furlong maiden at Lingfield in
September, and in his sophomore debut, the bay won a roughly 1 1/16-mile
handicap at Wolverhampton on March 5. The Kempton race represents a step up in
class for the colt, who will be guided by Chris Catlin.
The ever-dangerous Mark Johnston will be represented by HAASHED (Mr. Greeley)
and MASTERY (Sulamani [Ire]). Like Gosden’s Mafaaz, Haashed is owned by Sheikh
Hamdan. A $450,000 Keeneland September yearling, he was a stylish debut winner
going one mile at Lingfield last November. The chestnut will make his first
start against winners here, but keeps Jamie Spencer in the saddle.
Mastery, a Darley homebred, was an impressive winner at first asking at
Nottingham last October. Returning just nine days later in the Houghton
conditions race at Newmarket, he finished third to the smart On Our Way (Oasis
Dream [GB]). Mastery will try Polytrack for the first time Wednesday. Regular
pilot Joe Fanning will be in the cockpit.
At this time last year, Johnston landed a similar nine-furlong conditions
event at Kempton with Campanologist (Kingmambo), who went on to bigger and
better things. In addition to defeating eventual American turf champion Conduit
(Ire) (Dalakhani) in the King Edward VII S. (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot,
Campanologist held his own against older horses, finishing a close fourth in the
Eclipse S. (Eng-G1) and second in the York S. (Eng-G2). It would be no surprise
if Haashed or Mastery follows in Campanologist’s footsteps and sets his
eyes on loftier targets.
DEPOSER (Ire) (Kheleyf), hailing from the barn of John Best, is no stranger
to Kentucky. The bay accompanied erstwhile stablemate Square Eddie (Smart
Strike) to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) last October, where he
finished a decent fourth to his triumphant companion. Deposer wheeled back 12
days later in a Keeneland allowance and wound up seventh. Freshened thereafter,
he will be making his seasonal reappearance in this spot with new rider Steve
Drowne. Deposer has raced once before at Kempton, crossing the wire sixth behind
Elnawin (Elnadim) and Square Eddie in the Sirenia S. (Eng-G3) in September.
Although the experienced SHAMPAGNE (Orpen) looks a cut below on turf, he is
three-for-three on synthetic surfaces, including a maiden win at Kempton last
May. The Paul Cole pupil added a Southwell handicap score to his record in July,
and a one-mile conditions event at Great Leighs in September. Martin Dwyer will
reunite with the colt as he makes his three-year-old bow.
MARKYG, a son of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, is two-for-two at
Kempton. The Karl Burke trainee, who placed third in the Chesham S. at Royal
Ascot last June, broke his maiden in his Polytrack debut here in October. The
dark bay made a winning reappearance at Kempton on February 25, scoring in a
seven-furlong handicap under the massive top weight of 133 pounds. Fergus
Sweeney is once again named to ride. Burke’s other runner, KEEPTHEBOATAFLOAT (Fusaichi
Pegasus), returns to England after a pair of unplaced performances in Dubai.
AKHENATEN (High Chaparral [Ire]) did not run badly in a couple of group
stakes last campaign, including a fifth behind the highly regarded Kite Wood
(Galileo [Ire]) in the Autumn S. (Eng-G3). The Mick Channon charge hinted that
he may be on the upswing with a clever victory in his Polytrack, and sophomore,
debut at Wolverhampton on March 5. Tony Culhane will renew their successful
partnership on Wednesday.
Trainer Richard Hannon will be double-handed, courtesy of WEALD PARK (Cozzene)
and SOHCAHTOA (Val Royal [Fr]), both of whom have raced exclusively on turf.
Weald Park’s highlight as a juvenile was a runner-up effort in the Superlative
S. (Eng-G2), and he rounded out the season with a seventh behind Crowded House
in the Racing Post Trophy. Richard Hughes, his principal rider last year, will
be in the irons.
Sohcahtoa won twice last summer at Goodwood, but he subsequently failed to
land a blow in stakes company, finishing fourth in the Stonehenge S. and Stardom
S. The bay was last seen reporting home ninth to Donativum in the Tattersalls
Timeform Million. Top jockey Ryan Moore picks up the mount.
The other entrants are TALKING HANDS (Mujahid), winless since taking the
Winkfield S. in July, and AGENTE PARMIGIANO (Captain Rio), who has not hit the
board since winning a maiden at Yarmouth in June.
In addition to earning a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the 135th
running of the Kentucky Derby, the winner will also receive a $100,000 bonus if
the horse competes in the Run for the Roses.
“I am thrilled by the quantity and quality of the horses that have been
declared for the race, which has taken two years of planning,” said Brian
Clifford, Kempton’s director of racing. “The race is unique and is the first
step between establishing a long-term link between European and American racing,
and I am very much looking forward to Wednesday.”