Multiple Group One winner Midday given International mission
The five-year-old secured her sixth victory at the highest level with a superb performance in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood at the end of July, her third success in the 10-furlong prize.
She still has the option of going for back-to-back victories in Wednesday’s Yorkshire Oaks on the Knavesmire but Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, has revealed she is likely to join stablemate Twice Over in the International.
It is a race Abdullah, owner of Juddmonte Farms, would love to win for the first time for obvious reasons.
“Midday will be left in the Yorkshire Oaks but she is an intended runner in the Juddmonte,” said Grimthorpe.
“The plan would be to run her and Twice Over in the race. Tom Queally will probably ride Midday and Ian Mongan would then be on Twice Over.
“That is not confirmed yet but it’s the likely scenario.
“Midday won the (Yorkshire) Oaks last year and it’s a wonderful race, but obviously the Juddmonte is very important.”
Cecil declared his delight after seeing both Midday and Twice Over being put through their paces on Wednesday morning.
He said: “There is a chance that Twice Over and Midday will both contest the Juddmonte International. Twice Over definitely goes for the race.
“Midday is also entered in the Yorkshire Oaks but hopefully, if we are happy with her wellbeing, we will be more likely to give the owner a double representation in his own race, which he would dearly love to win for the first time.
“It was nice to see Twice Over come back to himself last time at York. He is working well.
“I was very pleased with them both this morning as Midday also worked very nicely.”
JAMIE Spencer can see no reason why American turf star Gio Ponti should reverse recent placings with Cape Blanco in the Arlington Million in Chicago on Saturday.
Spencer guided Aidan O’Brien’s Cape Blanco to an impressive victory in the Man O’War Stakes at Belmont Park on his latest visit to the US last month, with Gio Ponti a well beaten second.
Gio Ponti was also behind Cape Blanco in the Dubai World Cup back in March and Spencer is ultra-confident his mount can once again emerge triumphant.
“I can’t see any reason why he can’t win. For me, he needs to underperform to not win,” Spencer told At The Races.
“If he can hold his form and not even improve on his Man O’War run, he should win. He’s beaten Gio Ponti twice and was going away from him at the end the last day.
“Gio Ponti beat the rest and is the best turf horse in America, but we’ve met him twice now and beaten him twice, so I can’t see any reason why he can turn the form around. I might be wrong.
“They’ve had a bit of rain in Chicago and while my horse’s best form is on fast ground, like all good horses, he goes on any ground.
“I think easier ground would be against Gio Ponti.
“My lad is a very simple ride. If there’s pace you can sit in and if there’s no pace you can go forward.
“Gio Ponti is one dimensional and has to be out the back to settle. You can ride to beat him.”
OWNER Clive Smith has indicated Kauto Star is likely to race again if pleasing connections in his training regime.
The four-time King George hero and dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was pulled up at the Punchestown Festival on his latest racecourse appearance in May, leading many to suggest retirement beckoned for the 11-year-old.
His summer holiday officially came to an end when he returned to work with champion trainer Paul Nicholls on Monday and how he fares as his workload is stepped up will determine whether his racing career will continue.
“He’ll have some light training and we’ll bring him up to regular training,” Smith told At The Races.
“Clifford Baker will be on him all the time and if he gives us the right signs and Kauto is showing a lot of spark, then we will look for a race for him.
“It will be the right race and I can assure everybody that he will never be pushed too far. If ever he shows any sign of not being right then we’ll retire him straight away.”
The heir apparent to Kauto Star’s crown is the Nicky Henderson-trained Long Run, winner of the King George and the Gold Cup last season and still only a six-year-old.
Smith feels Long Run has plenty of talent but is unsure whether he can produce the same level of consistency as Kauto Star has done over the years.
“The only thing I wonder about Long Run is his jumping,” Smith added.
“Whether he’s going to be consistent, I don’t know. He looks a very talented horse, so maybe he can do as well as Kauto.”
