Simcock eyeing Bushman bid
“The plan is to go there. It is a race we have had in mind for quite a while now. He will probably have one run beforehand and that might well be on Saturday in the Superior Mile at Haydock,” said the Newmarket trainer.
“He was unraced as a two and three-year-old so is quite lightly-raced for his age. He slightly lost his way the end of last year and the beginning of this season but I’m really happy with him now and he is training very well.”
Totesport make Fanjura the 12-1 market leader and the Barry Hills-trained four-year-old has been allotted 9st 7lb after rattling off a hat-trick of wins.
John Gosden has landed the last two renewals with Tazeez (2008) and Pipedreamer (2007) as well as with Halling (1994).
Among the Newmarket trainer’s five possibles are three in the ownership of Princess Haya of Jordan – Lincoln handicap winner Expresso Star (9st 9lb), the hat-trick seeking Invisible Man (8st 4lb) and Charm School (8st 5lb).
Other interesting contenders in a 134-strong entry for the £160,000 first leg of the autumn double are John Smith’s Cup winner Sirvino (9st 1lb), trained by David Barron, Jeremy Noseda’s Applause (8st 2lb) and Ed Dunlop’s Britannia Handicap victor Fareer (8st 10l).
totesport.com Cambridgeshire, sponsors bet: 12-1 Fanjura, 14-1 Antinori, Applause, Bushman, Sirvino, 16-1 Acrostic, Bankable, Dancourt, Expresso Star, Fareer, Invisible Man, Tryst, Wannabe King, 20-1 bar.
* Gimcrack runner-up Taajub is under consideration for the valuable sales race at the Doncaster St Leger meeting.
William Haggas’ juvenile ran above expectations on the Knavesmire, finishing in front of some highly-regarded youngsters in the Group Two event.
The Weatherbys Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes had been his first target but the Prix d’Arenberg in France has also emerged as an alternative.
“He ran a lovely race in the Gimcrack,” said Angus Gold, owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s racing manager.
“He is also in a Group race in France at Chantilly (September 17) but we have got no further than that with discussions.”
