Cardsharp leads hopes of strong festival for Johnston
DO not tell trainer David Griffiths that York’s Nunthorpe Stakes will be a two-horse burn-up between American speedster Lady Aurelia and the emerging superstar Battaash.
Even though no 10-year-old horse has won the prestigious five-furlong Group One for more than 60 years, he is more than hopeful that his seemingly ageless stable star Take Cover can hold his own in one of the world’s best sprints.
Griffiths was unaware of this statistical footnote as he rode Take Cover – one of the most popular sprinters in training because of his longevity, and lightning quick speed out of the starting stalls that means he is always setting the pace – on the gallops at his Bawtry stables.
Bahamian Pride, trained by the late Dandy Nicholls, was nine when prevailing in 2004 and Robin Bastiman’s Borderlescott, to the surprise of Griffiths, was just seven when winning for a second time in 2009. “Bloody hell, that would be good, wouldn’t it?” the former jockey and riding instructor told
It is not a forlorn hope. Third last year after playing up at the start, Take Cover triumphed on Knavesmire last month before finishing fourth to the aforementioned Battaash when seeking a record third victory in Goodwood’s King George V Stakes.
Even though Griffiths, 43, is the first to accept that Wesley Ward’s Lady Aurelia, the mount of Frankie Dettori, and the Charlie Hills-trained Battaash are the two to beat, and deserve the utmost respect ahead of Friday’s clash at the Ebor festival, he has never been afraid of a challenge.
Asked to make the case for
He has won 11 of his 37 starts, plus £546,00 of prize money, and Griffiths credits the patience shown by Andrew Hollis, of the Mansfield-based Borcroft Park Stud, who sent him the gelding in 2014 when his training career was still in its infancy.
It has also taken time to understand the horse’s many foibles. He requires round-the-clock care from the trainer’s wife, Sophie. For example, when the horse came out in a rash and lumps, it was she who identified the source – an apple. They did not realise Take Cover was allergic to the fruit.
It is she who leads the horse down to the start of his races in the hope he does not take off under big-race rider David Allan. Yet, two years ago, he broke free from the stalls in the Nunthorpe and he played up at the start 12 months ago.
“He’s just raw power and aggressive with all he does,” said Ryedale-based Allan, who is on track for a career-best season.
“Sophie does a great job calming him down. He’s a bit of a handful when he gets to the races because he’s all adrenaline. Last year, I looked down at my girths, moved a fraction and he shot off down the track, I have to sit still, put the blindfold on when he goes into the stalls and whip it off as the gates open. If you get the timing right, he’s a flying machine.”
Yet, to Griffiths and his family, he is the horse that has put their stable on the racing map. With 21 horses in training, they have accrued 17 winners this season – two short of their career best.
Nunthorpe glory would top the lot because of the persistence and patience required to prepare a horse for a race that lasts less than a minute. “Even though he’s a bit mad, he’s soft. Sophie has that affinity with him that is, potentially, massive,” added Griffiths, who will be a bundle of nerves before the start.
“Horses like this are brilliant. For the yard. For the owner. For the staff. It makes a massive difference to be able to go to Royal Ascot, Goodwood and York with a chance rather than making up the numbers.” MIDDLEHAM trainer Mark Johnston hopes to have a strong hand at York’s Ebor Festival with his juvenile horses headed by Cardsharp.
The top prospect will line up in Saturday’s Gimcrack Stakes after opting not to step up in class for Sunday’s Group One Prix Morny at Deauville that was won by Unfortunately from the nearby Leyburn yard of Karl Burke.
Johnson’s son and assistant Charlie is confident good ground will see Cardsharp back to his best. “He was under strong consideration for the Prix Morny,” he said.
“He didn’t show his true running at Goodwood and at this stage we are putting it down to the soft ground. At Newmarket when he won, he hit the line very strongly whereas at Goodwood he travelled like the best horse in the race, but couldn’t quicken. Hopefully, it was because of the ground.”
The Johnston yard is looking for a boost after stable star Permian’s fatal injury in the Secretariat Stakes in Arlington, Chicago, earlier this month.
Other prospects include Dee Ex Bee who lines up in tomorrow’s Acomb Stakes over seven furlongs.
“It looks a race full of horses like him – maiden/ novice winners who are stepping up in grade,” added Johnston.
“This was the plan for him straight away after his impressive win at Goodwood. We have been happy with him since that win and hopefully he’s good enough.”
Meanwhile, the filly Threading has been supplemented for Thursday’s Lowther Stakes at a cost of £15,000.
“It is obviously a big step up, but she was very impressive at Goodwood. Not many fillies win a Glorious Goodwood maiden by six lengths,” added Johnston.
“She is a filly we have always liked and we feel she is up to being competitive at this grade. It looks a wide open Lowther and one we feel she has a chance of running very well in.”
Jedd O’Keeffe has his fingers crossed the rain arrives in midweek ahead of More Mischief ’s planned outing in the Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes on Thursday.
The North Yorkshire trainer would dearly like the five-yearold to have the chance to win her second Listed contest having taken the Hoppings Stakes at Newcastle last month.