Soapy team mull arc bid
Next month’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe remains an option for Soapy Danger after he caught the eye on his first run back for over a year in the Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial at Newbury.
Mark Johnston’s four-year-old had been off the track for 395 days after injuring himself in last year’s Great Voltigeur, but he showed he retains all of his ability with his battling display.
After leading two furlongs out, Soapy Danger boxed on gamely inside the distance but lost out by just a neck to 9-1 shot Halicarnassus.
Johnston said: “I hate being second but in the circumstances you have to be pleased with him and he has shown he is still up to that class.
“We have had trouble getting weight off him and he is still 10lb heavier than his heaviest winning weight.
“We’ll have a think about where he goes but he is still in the Arc.”
Winning trainer Mick Channon added of his representative: “He is a tough and consistent horse and has never got the recognition he deserves.”
Centennial’s form has been working out well and John Gosden’s son of Dalakhani landed his second race on the bounce when taking the Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes as the 9-4 second favourite.
Gosden’s representative Les Reynolds said: “He is a nice horse with a great attitude and is a lovely middle-distance prospect for next year.”
Blue Square introduced the winner at 50-1 for the 2007 Derby, although Ladbrokes were more impressed and are just 25-1.
Hughie Morrison is not renowned for first-time-out juvenile winners but Stimulation (6-1) proved a different proposition as he landed division one of the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup Maiden Stakes.
Morrison said: “I think I am right in saying that is my first two-year-old colt to ever win first time out, so he must be all right!”
Division two fell to 2-1 favourite Paco Boy, who built on his debut run to collect by two and a half lengths under Ryan Moore.
Trainer Richard Hannon said: “He will improve but we will take out time with him and he is nice prospect for next year over six or seven furlongs.”
Hannon and Moore missed out on a double in the Dubai Duty Free Surprises EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes as their 11-4 favourite Dream Day was denied by the Philip Robinson-ridden Rosa Grace (100-30).
A drop back from middle distances to seven furlongs saw the Geoff Wragg-trained Hotel du Cap put up a much-improved display to capture the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup.
Asset was a warm order and returned the 4-6 favourite as he dropped in class, but Hannon’s runner had no answer to the 25-1 winner and the market leader went down by half a length.
Peppertree (14-1) scored on his first start for Ed Vaughan by taking the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes, while Moore eventually completed a brace aboard 3-1 favourite Jack Rolfe in the Dubai Duty Free Foundation Handicap.
