July Cup has high-class field
A cosmopolitan entry of 66 has been received for the £360,000 Darley July Cup, the richest sprint race in Europe, at Newmarket.
The July 14 event has attracted entries from Australia, Japan and Hong Kong with dual Group One winner Takeover Target heading a trio of antipodean hopefuls.
The seven-year-old could be joined by Falkirk, trained by Lee Freedman, and Glamour Puss from the stable of Danny O’Brien as they look to follow in the hoofprints of Choisir who finished second in 2003.
Japanese raider Agnes World landed the six-furlong contest in 2000 and Symboli Gran, a Group Two winner in his native country, could try to emulate that success.
Further international interest is provided by Cape Of Good Hope, trained in Hong Kong by David Oughton and successful in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot at York last summer.
Aidan O’Brien, successful with Stravinsky in 1999 and Mozart two years later, has 10 to choose from, headed by Stan James 2000 Guineas victor George Washington and the well-regarded Art Museum.
The Maktoum family’s Godolphin operation has yet to add the Darley July Cup to its list of Group One winners, but looks to have a strong hand in 2006 with seven entries.
These include Iffraaj, winner of Royal Ascot’s Wokingham Stakes in 2005 when trained by Michael Jarvis, Opera Cape, and Silca’s Sister.
Sir Michael Stoute has entered Home Affairs and Tawaassol while other leading contenders include Amadeus Wolf, La Cucaracha, Soldier’s Tale and Soviet Song.
