The Citizen (Gauteng)

Shaherezad­a all dressed up for the Height of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood

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– Shaherezad­a is entitled to come on for her exertions in the Cheshire Oaks, in which she was fifth to Magic Wand on her first start since she opened her account in November.

Trainer Roger Varian looks to have found a good opportunit­y for the Dutch Art filly in the Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood.

Sandown hosts a high-quality evening card, with Weekender looking to take another step up the ladder by winning the Group 3 Henry II Stakes.

The John Gosden-trained colt has shown progressiv­e

London

form throughout his career and looked set for a successful campaign when making a winning seasonal reappearan­ce at Chelmsford.

He may only have won a fiverunner event but did it in effortless fashion from the front to beat the useful Higher Power by 2.50 lengths.

As that was only Weekender’s seventh start, it is fair to say the best could still be to come from the four-year-old son of Frankel.

Weekender is stepping up in trip as well as grade, but it would be unwise to underestim­ate him.

Gosden can also land the Heron Stakes with the highly promising colt Without Parole.

Also by Frankel, the threeyear-old has won both his novice races in great style by six lengths.

He was in contention for the 2000 Guineas until being ruled out with a slight setback. The St James’s Palace Stakes remains a big target and he can book his ticket to Royal Ascot.

Poet’s Word, who chased the Gosden-trained superstar Cracksman and got to within seven lengths of him in the Champion Stakes, has much less on his plate in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes.

Sir Michael Stoute’s five-yearold finished sixth in the Hong Kong Cup after that effort and was a good third in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March.

Wedding Date can continue the remarkable record of the Hannon stable in the National Stakes.

Richard Hannon senior won this Listed dash 10 times, while his son already has two on the board.

Wedding Date looked to have learnt from a debut second at Brighton when trotting up next time out at Chester.

Yeah Baby Yeah won nicely at York last week and can defy a 3kg penalty for trainer Gay Kelleway in the Double Delight Hat-Trick Heaven Fillies’ Handicap at Chelmsford. –

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