Stoute ace favourite for Kempton spoils
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Rohaani has been installed as 11-4 favourite by the sponsors for the Coral Rosebery Stakes over 10 furlongs at Kempton tomorrow.
The four-year-old has only met with defeat once in his career and faces 15 rivals in the £31,000 race.
Among the leading contenders are George Margarson’s prolific all-weather scorer Young Mick and Ed Dunlop’s progressive looking Red Racketeer, the mount of Frankie Dettori.
“The horse is working very well and has been for a long time, so providing he handles the track we think he’s got a good chance,” said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to the colt’s owners the Gainsborough Stud.
“All Ed’s horses work on the Polytrack all the time so it won’t be strange to him.”
Heading the weights is Clive Brittain’s Kandidate, good enough to be placed in the 2000 Guineas last season.
After a short spell in Dubai, where he managed to get his head in front, he dead-heated with Vanderlin in the Listed Doncaster Mile last month.
“He seems very well and he’s a 5lb better horse on the all-weather than he is on turf so this seemed an ideal race,” said Brittain.
“Ryan Moore seemed to think he would be suited by a step up in distance so we’ll give it a go and see whether he stays.
“He’s come back from Dubai in really good form but he can throw in the odd bad race.
“He ran some good races last year, he was third in the Craven and in the 2000 Guineas but then he lost his form.
“The fact Kempton is now an all-weather track should suit him with some decent races there but it would be nice to win this. We had the first winner there so we are already on the board and the track is perfect.”
Young Mick has already had 10 races this year, winning six times, including over a mile and a half on this course.
And his trainer George Margarson is looking forward to another good run.
“He’s in really good form. He’s missed not having a race for a fortnight as he likes going racing,” said the Newmarket handler.
“He travels very well in his races and I haven’t got a problem with the track or the trip.
“He’s drawn in the middle in stall nine, that’s perfect.
“A lot of these horses aren’t tried and tested over the course and he’s been loving the all-weather.”
Coral bet: 11-4 Rohaani, 6-1 Royal Island, Divine Gift, 15-2 Red Racketeer, 10-1 Obrigado, 12-1 Dunaskin, Young Mick, 14-1 Bravo Maestro, Realism, 20-1 Kandidate, 22-1 Cherub, Profit’s Reality, 25-1 Boo, Ringsider, Artistic Style, 40-1 Blue Sky Thinking.
Totesport: 3-1 Rohaani, 6-1 Red Racketeer, 13-2 Divine Gift, 8-1 Royal Island, 10-1 Young Mick, 11-1 Obrigado, 12-1 Bravo Maestro, 14-1 Kandidate, Dunaskin, 20-1 Realism, 25-1 Artistic Style, Cherub, Ringsider, 33-1 Boo, Profit’s Reality, 50-1 Blue Sky Thinking.
