SHUMOOKHI SET FOR GLORY
Shumookhi can gain a deserved notable success in the Byerley Stud Stakes at Newbury on Friday.
Archie Watson’s speedy filly has gone close in decent races in France the last twice she has been seen in action and looks to have solid claims of gaining a first Listed race closer to home.
She has only won one of her five races and that was a novice even at Catterick, but the filly she beat there, Society Queen, has subsequently won twice.
Beaten just two and three-quarter lengths in the Queen Mary at Ascot, Watson sent her to Deauville for a Group Three where she was beaten just a length in third by Karl Burke’s Little Kim.
It was back to France two weeks later for a Listed race at Vichy, where she was narrowly beaten by James Tate’s Second Generation.
She is second best in on the figures and a reproduction of any of her last three runs will see her go very close.
Elsewhere at Newbury, Richard Hannon appears to have some strong chances, firstly in the opening first division of the sevenfurlong maiden with Fox Power.
The Dark Angel colt cost 450,000 guineas and finished third of eight in a strong maiden on debut at Goodwood.
He got the message all too late there and better can be expected.
Another Hannon newcomer at Goodwood was Alhakmah and she is back out in the six-furlong maiden later on the card.
This one cost Al Shaqab 420,000 guineas and fairly flew home to be beaten a neck by 125-1 winner Feel Glorious.
It will be disappointing if she fails to go one better.
After a quiet first half of the season, Charlie Hills’ string have burst into life and he should be on the mark with Qutob in the myracing.com-sponsored maiden at Nottingham.
Second on debut to a previous winner, he was literally caught on the line, but that experience will stand him in good stead.
William Haggas’ Eyelool should be hard to beat in the EBC Group Nursery at Wolverhampton having opened his account at Epsom last time out.
He had the misfortune of bumping into Advertise on his debut but was not disgraced.
Ralph Beckett’s Fox Fearless outran his 20-1 odds on his first start at Newmarket and should know more about the game on his return to Headquarters for the Fly London Southend Airport To Lyon EBF Novice Stakes.
Spirit Ridge might be the best bet at Catterick in the Berber Leather Novice Stakes, while the return to the all-weather at Chelmsford can help Corinthia Knight return to winning ways in the five-furlong feature race.
Officials at York racecourse are excited about the prospect of Stradivarius bidding to win the £1million Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ bonus.
John Gosden’s fouryear-old started his season by winning the Yorkshire Cup in May, which was one of four potential starting points to trigger the incentive.
He has since added the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Goodwood Cup and puts it all on the line on Friday week in the Lonsdale Cup.
York chief executive William Derby said: “It’s really exciting. There was a huge amount of scepticism about whether the bonus was realistic, let alone achievable, so for a horse to be in contention going into the last leg in its first year is amazing.”
“We’re hugely proud and excited to be staging the last leg.”