Sands Of Mali’s Royal Ascot prep could be blown away by Brando

Richard Fahey feels the British Stallion Studs Clyde EBF C o n d i t i o n s S t a ke s a t Ha milton today should act as the perfect preparation for Sands Of Mali’s Royal Ascot bid.

T h e G r o u p O n e w i n n e r escapes a penalty in Scotland, but the race is far from a penalty kick.

In fact, it has attracted three of the first four home from last year’s British Champions Sprint at Ascot, with only the retired Harr y Angel missing. S ands Of Mali came out on to p t h a t d ay, wi t h Do n j u a n Triumphant third and Brando fourth, and Fahey’s charge has run only once since then when sixth behind Blue Point in Dubai.

“This race is spot on. I was going to take him for an away day, but I was nicely surprised he was qualified for this,” said Fahey.

“D o n’t g e t me w r o n g , I ’m far from saying this is an easy race, but there are very limited opportunities for a horse like him and when you find a conditions race for a Group One winner without a penalty, it is fantastic.

“S o me p e o p l e t h o u g h t h e ran all right in Dubai, but I personally was disappointed. I expected him to run better the way he’d been training.

“It’s a big ask going out there taking on race-fit horses, but he’s in great order now and this race has come at the right time. It saves taking him for an away day and this is probably better.”

Kevin Ryan’s Brando has race fitness on his side having run in the Abernant and the Duke of York where he stumbled coming out of the stalls. Royal Ascot is not on his agenda, though, with the July Cup his big aim after being placed in the last two renewals.

“He’s in great form. He was never going to Royal Ascot and this race fits in nicely into his programme ahead of his preparation for the July Cup,” said Ryan.

Donjuan Triumphant was last of six behind Hey Gaman at Leicester on his reappeara n c e o v e r s e v e n f u r l o n g s and drops in trip. The field is completed by Fighting Irish, Lahore and Lomu.

Ocala seems to have found her level now, and is one to note in the Weatherbys Printi n g S e r v i c e s H a m i l t o n i a n Handicap. Tr ied in maiden and novice company, Ocala made her breakthrough on her second handicap start at Chepstow last month - coming home a cosy two-length winner as favourite. That was only a moderate event over a mile, but she can keep the wagon rolling now she has got her head in front.