LADY TO BE QUEEN AT YORK
Spiritual Lady can finally make up for lost time in the Betfred Supports York Against Cancer Garrowby Stakes at York tomorrow.
Charlie McBride’s stable star has yet to grace the turf this season after a string of setbacks and has also missed a couple of intended engagements due to the ground.
But the weather gods have been kind to the daughter of Pastoral Pursuits on this occasion as she looks set to encounter her favoured soft underfoot conditions on the Knavesmire.
Spiritual Lady was last seen making short work of some useful rivals in a Listed race at Newmarket nearly a year ago, but McBride has reported her ready to roll ahead of what could prove to be a fruitful autumn campaign.
The likes of Stewards’ Cup hero Lancelot Du Lac and Wokingham runnerup Steady Pace are sure to provide Spiritual Lady with her toughest task to date, but in receipt of weight all round she could prove to be a cut above these and can land this on the way to bigger targets.
Equilateral raised many an eyebrow with the most facile of victories first time out and a 6lb penalty may not be enough to stop him in the Peter Sutton Memorial British EBF Novice Stakes.
It is hard to know what to make of the form of his Bath success, but the son of Equiano travelled like a dream under Steve Drowne before strolling into the lead and bounding three and a half lengths clear.
Charlie Hills’ colt has some eyecatching entries in the Mill Reef and Middle Park later this month and his trainer looks to have found the perfect opportunity to double his tally ahead of those engagements.
Caravaggio can get his career back on track in the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes on day two of Irish Champions Weekend at the Curragh.
The Scat Daddy colt shaped like a potential superstar when gunning down Harry Angel in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot but has been a shadow of his former self in two starts subsequently.
Once labelled ‘the fastest horse I’ve ever trained’ by Aidan O’Brien, Caravaggio never looked comfortable at any stage when fourth in the July Cup and his effort last time out in France behind Brando was bitterly disappointing.
It has since transpired he returned very sore from that outing and the master of Ballydoyle believes a lack of traction from the fitting of new shoes can account for his poor showing.
Although the drop back to five furlongs does not look the most obvious of positives, Caravaggio will face a much easier field than he has contested on his previous two outings and should get back to winning ways with the minimum of fuss.