Elite hoping Soviet is on song
Connections of Soviet Song would be “disappointed if she didn’t run a nice race” on her comeback in tomorrow’s Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
James Fanshawe’s mare makes her eagerly-awaited seasonal bow in the Group One event, for which she is VC Bet’s joint 100-30 favourite along with Peeress.
Although Fanshawe has expressed a slight concern the one-mile contest may have come too soon for her, the five-time Group One winner is reported to be coming to hand nicely ahead of the Newbury feature.
“She’s ready for a run but James would have preferred to have another couple of weeks before coming here,” said Matthew Budden, racing manager for Soviet Song’s owners Elite Racing Club.
“She’s pretty adaptable ground-wise – although in an ideal world we wouldn’t want too much rain because she wouldn’t want to start off on desperate ground.
“She’s had a long absence and going into a Group One, she’s going to have to be pretty fit if she is to win.
“We’d be disappointed if she didn’t run a nice race. If she gets beaten tomorrow I’m sure it would be down to being her first race of the season and nothing else.
“It’s a long season with lots of big prizes and the Lockinge is not the be-all and end-all.”
Elite have also declared New Seeker in the Lockinge but warned Clive Cox’s talented six-year-old may be withdrawn from the 10-runner line-up if there is heavy overnight rain.
“He’s a horse that seems to be at his best when it is top of the ground,” added Budden.
“He’s a big, heavy horse and he doesn’t go as well through the mud as some of the lighter ones do.
“If it goes really soft, we would think twice about running him.”
The going at Newbury is currently good, good to soft in places but clerk of the course Richard Osgood has predicted further ease in the ground by Saturday.
“We are expecting between five and 10 millimetres of rain overnight ut it is more likely to be nearer to five millimetres than 10,” he explained.
Jeremy Noseda is also keeping his fingers crossed the forecast rain stays away ahead of Majors Cast’s tilt at the Lockinge .
The five-year-old will be competing in a British Group One contest for the first time, but Noseda has no doubt the son of Victory Note is good enough to hold his own at the highest level.
The mount of Frankie Dettori twice competed in top company last year, finishing third to Starcraft in the Prix du Moulin before completing his season with a creditable fifth-placed finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Noseda’s charge has continued on an upward curve this season after winning a three-runner Listed event at Haydock in May.
However, the Newmarket handler told www.jeremynoseda.com that the prevailing wet conditions may hinder Majors Cast’s chances in the race, for which he is a 7-2 chance with VC Bet.
“His prep race went well and he seems in tip-top order – I’m just concerned about the ground,” said Noseda. “I hope that it stays good at least.
“He can handle soft ground but he’s a better performer on a good or better surface.
“Majors Cast is the second highest-rated horse in the race on official figures, so he is definitely worth his place in the line-up.”
Sir Michael Stoute will be doubly-represented with Rob Roy and Peeress.
The former, who will be ridden by Michael Kinane, sustained an injury when trailing home last in the 2000 Guineas in 2005 but looked to be back on top of his game with two wins in three starts, the last being a one-length victory in a Group Two event over a mile at Sandown in April.
Kinane usually partners Peeress but will be replaced at the helm by Kieren Fallon this time around.
The Pivotal mare finished third behind Lockinge favourite Soviet Song in the Falmouth Stakes last July but went onto win the Group One Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket in October on her penultimate start.
“We think she is in good form and we are sure she’ll come on for the race,” said Chris Richardson, for owners Cheveley Park Stud.
“The ground will also be to her advantage. Like a lot of these Pivotals they tend to go well with a bit of ease in the ground.
“Soviet Song is a serious favourite – and Rob Roy a similar threat – and it’s going to be competitive race.
“We saw last year how she can progress though so I hope that she can do similarly this year.”
Jockey Steve Drowne is unfazed by the prospect of soft ground at the Berkshire venue as Mac Love looks to go one better than last year.
The five-year-old finished runner-up to Rakti when in the care of Jon Akehurst last term and is now trained by Roger Charlton.
Drowne rode Mac Love for the first time when he finished second to Etlaala on his seasonal debut at Warwick in April and is confident the gelding can make a smooth transition stepping back up in class and trip.
“I worked him last Saturday and he seems in cracking form,” said the jockey.
“I’m not sure the rain would be problem as he seems to go on any ground – it might not suit some of the others so much though.”
Court Masterpiece, trained by Ed Dunlop, will be reunited with Hong-Kong based jockey Gerald Mosse for the first since time since winning the Group One Prix de la Foret at Longchamp last October.
While Dunlop’s charge has failed to hit such heights since, Mosse believes Court Masterpiece still has the potential to win a race like the Lockinge.
“Court Masterpiece seems to get o well with me and I think he will like the ground,” he said.
“The ground being on the soft side will not be too bad for us. He will also be helped because there is not a big field.”
Mick Channon’s Rocamadour and the Clive Brittain-trained Kandidate complete the home challenge, while Common World represents County Tipperary handler Tom Hogan.
