A CHAMPION MESS
MARK JOHNSTON yesterday dismissed QIPCO Champions Day as “a bit of a mess” after a switch to Ascot’s hurdles track was confirmed yesterday.
Heavy rainfall has rendered Ascot’s round course – which was due to stage three Group races on Saturday – waterlogged, prompting officials at the royal venue to put in place a contingency plan to enable the £4.2million card to go ahead as planned.
But the decision to move the featured QIPCO Champion Stakes, Fillies & Mares Stakes – both Group One events – and the Group Two Long Distance Cup to the ‘inner’ course used for hurdles racing has not met with Johnston’s approval.
“They’ve switched to the ‘inner Flat track’ and there isn’t an ‘inner Flat track’ as far as I’m concerned – it’s the hurdle track,” said Britain’s winningmost trainer yesterday.
“They’ve spent all that money and I think the whole thing is a bit of a mess.”
Johnston, whose Dee Ex Bee has chased home Long Distance Cup favourite Stradivarius in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, the Goodwood Cup and York’s Lonsdale Stakes this season, has yet to commit the four-year-old to the two-mile test.
“I don’t know – I’m going to have a look at it,” said Johnston. “I need to talk to the owners.
“For all we know he likes soft ground, I don’t know if I want to take a chance with him at the end of the year for a Group Two.” However, Marcus Tregoning is relishing the prospect of soft ground for the return of Mohaather, off course since landing the Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April. “He’s come back from a long break from the racecourse but he’s a fit horse and I hope he can run a lovely race on Saturday,” said the Derby-winning trainer.