Barney Roy looks to emulate G1 feat in Germany
DUBAI: Barney Roy bids for back-to-back G1 victories in Germany as he stretches out to a mile and a half for the first time in the Preis von Europa at Cologne on Saturday.
The six-year-old has been in superb form this year for trainer Charlie Appleby and gained a third G1 success in the 10-furlong Grosser Dallmayr-preis at Munich on July 26, when he stayed on gamely to score by a neck over Quest The Moon.
He finished third in the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Royal Ascot in June and started his year with two major nine-furlong wins at Meydan, UAE, including an easy success in the G1 Jebel Hata Sponsored By Emirates Airline.
William Buick takes the ride on Barney Roy, who also captured the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot as a three-year-old.
Charlie Appleby said: “We were delighted with Barney Roy in the Grosser Dallmayr-preis, when he won on ground that was soter than ideal.
“He showed all the signs in that race that a mile and a half will be to his liking. If you look at his runs out in Dubai this year, and even the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, he was puting in his best work in the closing stages. If he does get the trip, we know that he is the class horse in the race.”
ROMANTIC PURSUIT CHASES G2 HONOURS: Medaglia d’oro filly Romantic Pursuit returns to G2 company for the Dance Smartly Stakes over a mile and a quarter on turf at Woodbine, Canada, on Saturday, 15 August.
The four-year-old homebred, who was trained by Kiaran Mclaughlin until earlier this year, stayed on strongly to take third on her only previous G2 outing in the nine-furlong Sands Points Stakes at Belmont Park, USA, in October.
Romantic Pursuit (David Moran) also placed at G3 level on her first start of 2020, filling the runner-up spot in the Very One Stakes over an extended nine furlongs at Gulfstream Park in February. She has subsequently made two allowance race appearances since joining Brendan Walsh, most recently when coming home third over nine and a half furlongs at Keeneland on Saturday, 11 July.
Godolphin USA President Jimmy Bell said: “Brendan Walsh has been very pleased with how Romantic Pursuit has progressed since her last race at Keeneland, when she ended up with too much to do and was a victim of circumstance.
“She is a very honest filly, who has won or placed in 10 of her 13 starts, and this looks a tightly-grouped field. This distance seems to suit her quite well – she has a very sustainable drive in her races – and this looks a great spot.”
GLORIOUS JOURNEY EYES G2 HUNGERFORD STAKES: Glorious Journey looks to capture the G2 Hungerford Stakes for a second successive year at Newbury, UK, on Saturday.
The charlie apple by-trained five-year-old stayed on strongly to beat G1 winner Librisa Breeze in the seven-furlong contest 12 months ago.
The son of Dubawi has gone on to more G2 success over seven furlongs this year with a comfortable victory in the Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan, UAE, on his seasonal return in January.
Glorious Journey (James Doyle) stayed on to finish third in the 1351 Cup over seven furlongs at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February, and came home ninth behind Space Blues over the same trip on his return from a break in the G2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood on July 28.
Charlie Appleby said: “Glorious Journey has a penalty for his win in this race last year but it looks as though the ground will play to his strengths again. He was very fresh in the Lennox Stakes but came out of it well and looks in good order now. He has to give weight all round but we feel he can run a big race again.”