Celerina set to take aim at Rockingham
Tommy Stack’s filly had previously finished third to Masamah at York, and continued on the upgrade when flashing home behind Michael Bell’s classy three-year-old.
With connections already thinking of a trip to Dubai next year, she is not likely to be seen too many more times this campaign.
“She’s improving away the whole time,” said Fozzy Stack, the trainer’s son and assistant.
“We might look at the Rockingham for her at the Curragh. There’s also a Listed race at Tipperary we might consider.
“One thing we won’t do is over-race her this summer as we might be thinking in terms of Dubai for her next spring because she handles firm ground.”
* The Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in September is now the main aim for Lolly For Dolly after her success in the Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Tommy Stack’s durable filly was winning for the fifth time in 10 starts, and added a Group Two success to the three triumphs she had already gained at Group Three level.
“She’s come out of the race well and we’re going to give her a little holiday now as she was on the go fairly early this year,” said Fozzy Stack, the trainer’s son and assistant.
“The Matron will be the main aim, but she takes a fair bit of grass so we’ll be looking to give her a prep race before it.
“She’ll either run in England or go for a Listed race at Tipperary.
“If we can get a Group One win out of her she’ll be very, very valuable.”
* RICHARD Kingscote believes the trip of the Ladbrokes St Leger will suit the Michael Owen-owned Brown Panther.
The three-year-old turned a competitive-looking King George V Stakes into a procession at Royal Ascot and has the world’s oldest Classic as his target.
A trip to Germany for their Derby is also a possibility for the Tom Dascombe-trained colt.
“He’s been a phenomenal horse all year. We knew he’d win but we didn’t expect him to win by six lengths and my ride didn’t particularly help him, but he won incredibly well,” said Kingscote.
“He travelled great and he showed a really nice gear up the straight. He gave me a lovely feel.
“I believe Germany is the plan. Tom is going to check out the track next week just to make sure it’s the right thing for the horse and if not Tom will look for another race.”
* MARCO Botti will have one more tilt at a big handicap with Acclamazing before switching his sights to Group races.
The three-year-old has won four of his seven races and was viewed by many as an unlucky loser in the Bond Tyres Trophy at York recently.
“I thought we had a good draw because the fancied horses were drawn low but the winner went up the other side,” said Botti.
“He hung to the right badly and I think he was looking for other horses and Adam (Kirby) had a job trying to keep him straight.
“His next start will be in a handicap at the July meeting, he’s gone up a few pounds but he still qualifies as it’s a 0-105.
“He’ll take his chance there and then we’ll give him a break before we campaign him for some black type.”
Botti is also thinking of black type for his rapidly improving filly Law Of The Range, who has won valuable handicaps at Ascot and Sandown already this year.
“She’ll have an entry next week in a Group Three over seven furlongs at Newmarket but whether we run depends on the ground,” added Botti.
“If not there’s a couple Listed races coming up, at Haydock and Pontefract, so we’ve got options.”
* PASTORAL Player could take a big leap in class following his third-place finish in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot.
The four-year-old was beaten just three lengths by winner Deacon Blues and trainer Hughie Morrison is now setting his sights on some top-class targets.
While Pastoral Player failed to cut much ice on his only start in Pattern company as a juvenile, the East Ilsley handler is eyeing a crack at the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York.
“He ran a blinder. There is not a lot of difference between the quality of the race and a Group One sprint, so we’ll give him an entry in the Nunthorpe,” he said.
“He pulled a shoe off in the race and I think he’s a better horse on better ground.”
