Breeder's Cup option for Creek

Cool Creek could be set for a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after his fine victory in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.

Richard Hannon’s two-year-old held off Sir Xaar by a neck to win the Group Two event, which initiated a memorable across-the-card double for the trainer after Presto Shinko won the totesport Ayr Gold Cup less than an hour later.

Hannon now has his sights on Cool Creek going for either the totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar or the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October.

The East Everleigh handler is also contemplating the possibility of heading to America for the Belmont Park feature on October 29.

“He’s just a grand sort and he’s come out of the race fine,” said Hannon.

“He ran into problems in the Champagne Stakes which might have cost him the race so it’s good that he won yesterday.

“We’ve got two options for him now in this country. The first is the Two-Year-Old Trophy and the second is a cut at the Dewhurst.

“I’m not sure which way we’d go yet but there’s also a chance he’ll go to the Breeders’ Cup for the race Wilko won last year (the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile) and I think that’d be what the owners would want to do.”

Hannon also expressed his satisfaction at Presto Shinko’s gritty success in the Ayr Gold Cup.

The 12-1 shot got home by a short head to complete a 633-1 treble at Ayr for jockey Seb Sanders.

Hannon added: “What with the 5lb penalty after winning at Goodwood it was a good performance and Seb gave him a copybook ride – he got on terms with the horse right from the start.

“There’s not much for him now because the handicapper will have a say but we could still see him again this season.

“We’ll have a look for a nice Listed race and go through the book to see if there is anything suitable later in the week.”