Spencer set for Ouija Board gallop
Spencer last sat on the Cape Cross filly when she finished seventh of eight runners behind Azamour in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot at York. It was later discovered Ouija Board had suffered a small stress fracture to her near-fore cannonbone but the multiple Group One-winner has made a pleasing recovery from that injury.
Trainer Ed Dunlop is targeting the Group Three September Stakes at Newmarket on September 3 for the four-year-old’s comeback. He told www.edunlop.com: “She is back in full exercise. She has done three pieces of work and tomorrow will be reunited with Jamie Spencer. She will just do a routine piece of work.
“She is moving well and her action appears to be good. All in all, we are encouraged by the way she is at the moment, physically. Mentally, she is as laid-back as ever, which is a good sign. She seems very well.
“We are considering taking her for a racecourse gallop with a lead horse next week.
“If the ground remains very firm we will consider going to Lingfield on the all-weather. But we will take everything one step at a time and see how she goes tomorrow.
“She remains on course for the September Stakes. That will be an important stepping-stone back for her.”
Meanwhile plans for Flashy Wings are under discussion after the filly delighted her trainer Mick Channon in a gallop at West Ilsley yesterday morning. The Queen Mary Stakes winner came through her first serious workout following a mid-season break with flying colours as she quickened past three stable-mates.
Channon is set to run the daughter of Zafonic in the Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 29 but he might opt to give her one more outing beforehand. He said: “I was delighted with the way she quickened up and so was Ted (Durcan, jockey). It was a very strong piece of work and just what I’d hoped would happen.”
“All options remain open to her including the Watership Down Stud Sales Race at Newbury (on September 17). “It’s quite close to the Cheveley Park but it’s worth a lot of money.”
Other options for Flashy Wings include next week’s Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes at York and the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville on August 21, although the likelihood of soft ground would count against a trip to France.
Mubtaker will definitely bid for a fourth successive victory in Saturday’s Stan James Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury after pleasing connections in a gallop yesterday morning.
Trainer Marcus Tregoning had been in two minds about running the eight-year-old in the Group Two contest at the Berkshire course as he is also entered in a conditions event at Newmarket on Friday. And despite Tregoning’s astonishment that his charge must shoulder a 3lb penalty, the Silver Hawk entire has convinced the trainer he is capable of further glory in the race.
“He’s in good form and we are very happy,” said the Kingwood House handler. “It is a better race than it was in maybe the last two years but he is one horse you can guarantee will go on the ground because it is very fast.
“It’s odd to me that he would not carry a penalty in Listed and conditions races but he has to run in a Group Two race with a 3lb penalty.”
