An exceptional renewal of the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes is in prospect at
Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on Saturday as four of the 10 entries
remaining at Monday’s forfeit stage are already Group 1 winners while seven of
them have won Pattern races this season.
Not only is this £200,000 one-mile event likely to witness a rematch between
last year’s first and second, Sky Lantern and Integral, it is set to be targeted
by a very strong French raid with the Andre Fabre trio of Miss France,
Esoterique and Fintry potentially being joined by Freddie Head’s Prix Maurice de
Gheest runner-up, Thawaany.
Integral won the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket’s July Course in July before
disappointing when third to Esoterique and Miss France in the Prix Rothschild at
Deauville.
“Integral bruised her off fore foot during the Rothschild and was not sound
afterwards,” said Chris Richardson, managing director of her owners, Cheveley
Park Stud. “That, combined with it being a messy race where the four-runner
field split in two, was the reason for her not performing as we expected.
“We have given her plenty of time since then and we intentionally missed the
Matron Stakes to get her ready for this. I watched her work on Saturday when she
went nicely and looked to be right on target.
“She is much stronger this year and although we have huge respect for Andre
Fabre, who does not come over unless he thinks that he will win, we wouldn’t
swap her for anything.
“Sir Michael Stoute is a master at being patient with fillies like her that
need time to mature and the chances are extremely high that she may stay in
training next year.”
French trainers have won five of the last six runnings of the Sun Chariot and
Fabre is gunning to make that six out of seven.
“All three of my fillies are intended runners,” he said. “Miss France will be
ridden by Maxime Guyon, Pierre-Charles Boudot will be aboard Esoterique and
Mickael Barzalona will partner Fintry.
“I have saved Miss France for this race, she is fresh and in very good shape
and we know from her One Thousand Guineas win that she enjoys the Rowley Mile.
“We have decided to take advantage of the weather and the good ground with
Esoterique, who could afterwards go on to the Breeders’ Cup or to Japan.
“She was a bit unlucky to be drawn wide in the Prix du Moulin and was left
with a lot of ground to make up. She could have won as she is in the same league
as the three horses that finished in front of her.
“Fintry won a Group 2 in the spring before she was affected by a virus. She
needed the race at Sandown last time but was still good enough to win and is a
very easy ride — she can make the running or come from behind.”
Other classy entries include a pair of recent Group 3 scorers, Kiyoshi and J
Wonder, plus Etaab, who could make a quick reappearance having won the Rosemary
Stakes over this course and distance on Friday.
Charlie Hills reports Kiyoshi to be on course for the Group 1 after she
returned to form with victory in the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster earlier this
month.
“At present Kiyoshi is on track to run in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket on
Saturday and has been pleasing us at home since her Doncaster win,” the Lambourn
trainer reported.
Ivawood, general favorite for next May’s Two Thousand Guineas, is one of 29
horses to stand their ground for the £500,000 Tattersalls Millions Two-Year-Old
Trophy at Newmarket on Saturday. Unbeaten in three starts, two of those in Group
2 company, the Richard Hannon-trained colt was last seen winning the Richmond
Stakes in impressive fashion at Glorious Goodwood.
The Hannon yard is famed for its success in big sales races and has five
other possibles, including Osaila, a close fifth to Cursory Glance in the
Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.
Aidan O’Brien has a potential runner in The Warrior, who was third to the
smart Portage at the Curragh on Sunday.
Osaila is also in the £300,000 Tattersalls Millions Two-Year-Old Fillies’
Trophy on the same card, for which there are 14 confirmations. Among them is the
Mick Channon-trained Malabar, who was one place in front of Osaila in the
Moyglare.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com