Chic aims for all-weather first

Chic will set out on the road towards a possible Group One campaign when she lines up in the Ladbrokes Silver Trophy at Lingfield tomorrow.

Sir Michael Stoute's mare boasts big-race entries later in the season, but she kicks off her year in the Group Three mile event.

Chic will not only be making her seasonal bow but she will also be experiencing the Polytrack surface for the first time, as the Silver Trophy is the first Pattern race to be run on the all-weather in Britain.

The five-year-old will be favoured by the conditions of the race and Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud, is hoping she can put up a bold show.

"I haven't spoken to Sir Michael for a couple of days now, but I think that no news is good news and this looks a good opportunity to get her back on the track," he said.

"Obviously the ground is a little bit of an unknown as she hasn't raced on it before, but she has done plenty of conditioning work on that sort of surface in Newmarket."

Stoute had considered running Chic in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket earlier in the week, but as well as a 3lb allowance tomorrow, she escapes having to carry a penalty for her win in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

"We were hoping to run her in the Falmouth, but Sir Michael thought that this was a better opportunity on her first start," explained Richardson.

"We have got a reasonable draw in three, but I'm sure she will improve on anything that she does tomorrow.

"We will work out a programme for her after tomorrow, but she has entries in races like the Sussex Stakes, the International at York and the Celebration Mile, so we will see how we go."

Another runner having a first try on the surface is the Henry Cecil-trained Akimbo.

The four-year-old was fifth to Valixir in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes last time.

Owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe believes he will act on the surface, having worked pleasingly on an all-weather gallop at Newmarket.

"He has worked on the Al Bahathri gallop and handled it well," he said. "This does look a very competitive race, though.

"He ran quite well at the Royal meeting at York, and we felt he would have finished close had he not drifted."

The all-weather debutants will have to take on some seasoned dirt campaigners, with Winter Derby hero Eccentric and 10-time winner Vortex leading the charge.

Vortex, who is trained by Gay Kelleway, clocked up some miles last season with trips to Sweden and Japan, and has also been in fine form on turf, winning the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket last time.

He beat the Ed Dunlop-trained Court Masterpiece by a short head that day, and there will be a rematch tomorrow.

"It looks a tough race. With the likes of Eccentric and Autumn Glory there are some really good horses in there," Kelleway said.

"My runner is spot-on, he's never been better. He likes a bit of variety, so the switch back to the all-weather should suit him.

"He came out of Newmarket really well and very fresh, so I'm pleased with him.

"Court Masterpiece is a good horse and we will have to see how it goes."

Jack Sullivan probably boasts the best of the all-weather form and he will be having his first run since finishing fourth in the Dubai World Cup in March.

The four-year-old enjoyed a fruitful winter in the Middle East, winning a Group Three over nine furlongs and a Listed contest over a mile.

Trainer Gerard Butler has given him a well-earned rest, and he is reported to be in good heart.

"We had always intended to give him a nice break after his exertions in Dubai, where he has done so well for us," said Butler.

"We've had an eye on this race for some time and we will see how we get on, but he's very well in himself.

"His form on the dirt in Dubai was good, not only in the Dubai World Cup but also in the Listed race and the Maktoum Challenge. The configuration of Lingfield and Nad Al Sheba would be chalk and cheese, though."

Butler has big plans for Jack Sullivan later this season, with an American campaign mapped out for the son of Belong To Me.

"The plan is to go to Belmont for the Woodward Handicap and the Jockey Club before, all being well, raising our sights to the Breeders' Cup Classic in October," he explained.

"He's a dirt horse and won't be going back to the turf. He is owned by quite an adventurous group of guys and this has been the plan for some time.

"Tomorrow's race will just get him going again. He's done a couple of pieces of work at Lingfield in the last few weeks, but I always think nothing beats match practice."

Jack Sullivan is an 8-1 chance with the race sponsors, while Chic is the 3-1 market leader.

Ladbrokes Silver Trophy, sponsors bet: 3-1 Chic, 4-1 Eccentric, 5-1 Court Masterpiece, 6-1 Vortex, 8-1 Jack Sullivan, 12-1 Autumn Glory, 14-1 Mac Love, 16-1 Akimbo, Babodana, 20-1 Pentecost, 25-1 Bahiano, 33-1 Lygeton Lad.