Choisir gets taste for Newmarket
The Australian speedster proved nothing short of a sensation at Royal Ascot when he landed both the King’s Stand Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes.
Johnny Murtagh was in the saddle for both wins and will take the ride again in Thursday’s Darley July Cup.
Paul Perry’s four-year-old breezed over three furlongs at Headquarters under his usual work rider, and the trainer was delighted with both his horse and the track.
“He had a look at the course and everything and he worked up nice. He looks great to me, very fit,” he said. “The track’s in good order, it looked great.”
Choisir is 2-1 favourite for the Group One contest with Cashmans. Airwave, his immediate victim in the Golden Jubilee, is a 3-1 chance to gain her revenge.
Oasis Dream is 7-2 and it is 12-1 bar those three.
July Cup: Cashmans bet - 2-1 Choisir, 3-1 Airwave, 7-2 Oasis Dream, 12-1 Acclamation, 20-1 Just James, Zipping, Striking Ambition.
Meanwhile Dermot Weld enhanced his excellent overseas record when Dimitrova made light work of her rivals in the $750,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park on Saturday.
Always close to the pace under David Flores, the Irish 1,000 Guineas third went clear for a two-length victory over Sand Springs.
“She’s a very solid, very sound and mentally tough flly,” the Curragh trainer told thoroughbredtimes.com.
“I just thought she was the right filly for this race and I picked the right rider in Flores.
“He rides on the front very well, and I wanted the filly to be ridden on the front or close to the front. When she quickens, it’s all over.”
The daughter of Swain had never previously raced beyond a mile but Flores said:
“The moment I saw her, I could tell. There was something special when I saw her in the paddock. She gave me a tremendous run in the last furlong.”
