Cheveley reach higher with Echelon
Echelon bids to uphold honour when she contests the totesport Celebration Mile at Goodwood on Saturday.
Her half-sister, Chic, took the Group Two contest in 2004 and 2005 and now the five-year-old mare goes for her first success at that level, having won four Group Three races.
“She’s a genuine Group Three filly,” said Cheveley Park Stud chief executive, Chris Richardson.
“We are taking the next step up on the basis that the Group One at the Curragh was just too tall an order. The winner (Peeping Fawn), as we know, is a superstar.
“She’s come out of that race well and this has been her target since then.
“Like all the family, she’s very progressive. We dismissed Ireland as it was all a bit upside down.
“Hopefully she will run well.”
As well as having the Sir Michael Stoute-trained mare in the contest, Cheveley Park Stud will also be represented by Cesare.
James Fanshawe’s charge is 11-8 favourite having progressed from classy handicapper to Group Two winner with victory in the Summer Mile at Ascot.
“He’s come out of his previous race in good form and James is happy with him,” said Richardson.
“We’re optimistic about his chances. He’s a tough, genuine little horse and hopefully he’ll be there or thereabouts.
“We go there with two live chances.”
Clive Cox is hopeful Dunelight can take his revenge on Cesare, having twice finished behind him at Ascot this season.
“He’s in very good form. We have got some hot and dry weather forecast between now and the race,” said trainer Clive Cox.
“He’s got a good draw and obviously he has got to turn the tables on Cesare on two previous runs this year.
“But he’s on his favourite track and I’m pleased he’s going there in excellent form.”
Godolphin go in search of a fourth victory in the race with the progressive Blue Ksar.
A winner of a Listed race at Pontefract on his last start, he was beaten by Blythe Knight in the Diomed Stakes at Epsom beforehand and the pair will lock horns again in Sussex.
But after victories for Caradak last year, Cape Cross in 1999 and Mark Of Esteem back in 1996, the Godolphin team are hoping for another good result.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: “Blue Ksar came out of his last race well. He is in good form and ready for this step up to Group Two level.
“It’s a tough race but he deserves to take his chance. Although Blue Ksar has won over 10 furlongs, he shows plenty of speed and we are happy to run him at a mile. He always gives his best,” he told www.godolphin.com.
Eoin Griffin brings Finicius over from Ireland again after his lightly-raced three-year-old ran a promising race in the Betfair Cup last time.
He finished less than four lengths behind Tariq and had some solid yardsticks behind him on that occasion.
“We’re hopeful that he’ll give a good account of himself,” said Griffin. “He has experience of the track now which can be important at Goodwood so hopefully he will run well.
“The last day he broke well but he just lost his position after a furlong and dropped to the back of the field so things didn’t go to plan.
“He was as fit going over there as we could get him but he had run at the Curragh in heavy ground before that and he could barely walk in it. There should be a bit of improvement in him and if that is the case he should be there or thereabouts.
“He finished in front of some decent horses and we are going over there thinking we have a realistic chance.
“The ground should be ideal. He’s a good ground horse and he doesn’t like extremes so we won’t be making excuses on that score.”
Totesport.com Celebration Mile
Sponsors bet: 11-8 Cesare, 11-2 Dunelight, Echelon, 13-2 Blue Ksar, 8 Blythe Knight, 11-1 Finicius, 12-1 Selinka, 33-1 Charlie Cool.
Ladbrokes bet: 11-8 Cesare, 5-1 Dunelight, 6-1 Blue Ksar, 13-2 Echelon, 8-1 Blythe Knight, 12-1 Finicius, Selinka, 33-1 Charlie Cool.
