ATZENI HAS ROYAL ACLAIM
ANDREA ATZENI will keep the ride aboard Royal Aclaim when the James Tate-trained filly defends her unbeaten record in Friday’s Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York.
The Sardinian rode the daughter of Aclaim, the
6-4 favourite for the fivefurlong Group 1, to an impressive victory in York’s Listed City Walls last month and Tate said: “We’ve decided it’s the right thing to do to keep Andrea on board. He rode her when she won over course and distance and we’ve decided to keep it all the same.”
Of Royal Aclaim’s first foray into the highest level — her first two races yielded novice-stakes wins at Newcastle and Bath — the Newmarket trainer added: “It’s quite a step up, but she hasn’t played by the rules so far.
“She takes everything in her stride and was very impressive last time — Andrea didn’t need his stick.”