Mirsaale seeking Carnival fun
Dalgleish runner defending 100 per cent Perth record
Keith Dalgleish is hoping Mirsaale can maintain his 100 per cent course record in the feature race at Perth’s sold-out summer Carnival Raceday.
The Carluke-based topweight, who ran in the 2013 Derby when trained by James Tate, concedes upwards of 5lbs to his five rivals in the £25,000 Spirits of Scone Stone of Destiny Handicap Hurdle.
Mirsaale made it three from three at Perth earlier this month, and Dalgleish said: “He’s in good order and will like the ground. It’s good money and he has always been quite a slick jumper. Brian Hughes rode him last time and, on his recommendation, he’s wearing cheekpieces for the first time over hurdles. Theyimprovedhimontheflat and hopefully he will run a big race again.”
Mirsaale’s opponents include Jennie Candlish-trained Theflyingportrait and Nicky Richards’ Caius Marcius, who are both unbeaten in two previous visits to the Scone track.
Also in the line-up is fourtime Perth scorer Green Zone, trained in Cumbria by Lisa Harrison and the winner of his last three starts.
The competitive field is completed by Dr Richard Newland’s hat-trick-seeking Lovato ridden by Sam Twistondavies, and Donald Mccaintrained Dear Sire, who chased Mirsaale home 17 days ago.
Dual champion jockey Richard Johnson has five rides starting with Knockmaole Boy in the opening Supreme Fast Foods Novices’ Hurdle for Gordon Elliott.
In the last two campaigns, Perth has supplied Johnson with more winners than any other course.
The famous primrose and rose colours of Michael and Lady Jane Kaplan are carried by the Lucinda Russell-trained Thorpe who attempts a rapid course and distance hat-trick in Thesupremegroup.com Handicap Hurdle.