Sunray a squeeze for Ascot
A HIGH draw is a concern for connections after ante- post favourite Sunray Major just made the cut for the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot today.
The lightly- raced fouryear- old — half- brother to the brilliant Kingman — crept in at the bottom of the 20- runner maximum field, but looks to be positioned on the wrong side of the course in stall 21.
Even so, Sunray Major is a warm order for the one- mile cavalry charge after comfortably winning a seven-furlong handicap on this course two weeks ago.
Steering
Frankie Dettori will again do the steering.
“He just managed to sneak in at the bottom there, which is very fortunate,” said Thady Gosden, who trains the son of Dubawi jointly with his father, John.
“He needed that penalty to get in so it was a good job he won.
“He’s very well bred and we’ve always liked him, but we haven’t had the smoothest of times with him.
“He’s in good form at the moment, but the draw can be important in a race like this.
“You normally want to be low, so I’m not sure how stall 21 will play out, stuck in the middle of the track.
“Hopefully, he can overcome that.”
The team at Clarehaven have two other strings to their bow, in King Leonidas and Magical Morning.
“King Leonidas has had his issues as well and is still lightly raced. He’s been improving and he should handle the ground fine,” Gosden added.
“Magical Morning has been running in the big handicaps through the year, winning one and finishing second in another. He’s a bit in and out, but ran two good races this year.” Snowfall rerouted:
See page 16