Brittain banking on ‘special’ Rizeena
The veteran Newmarket handler masterminded the careers of Sayyedati, Crimpeline, User Friendly and perhaps the greatest of them all, Pebbles.
Brittain also won the Fillies’ Mile in 2009 with Hibaayeb, who won the Ribblesdale at three and went on to be successful in America.
What marks Rizeena out from most of her rivals is that as recently as June she was winning the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot over five furlongs and is already racing over a mile, but the way she won the Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs suggests the trip will not be an issue.
“I’m delighted with her going into the race. She has come through all her prep races very well and she’s in good spirits,” said Brittain.
Godolphin have a good record in the race having won the last three renewals and have two representatives this year, one from each of their trainers.
All of their three recent winners took the May Hill at Doncaster previously, just like the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Ihtimaal did last time out.
“She has been doing well since Doncaster, I am happy with her at home,” said Bin Suroor.
“This is another step up for her now, running in a Group One, but she is a Group Two winner.
“It is a tough race, so we will see what happens.”
The are three Irish challengers with Aidan O’Brien running Wonderfully, a sister to Mars but well behind Rizeena in the Moyglare.
Paul Deegan’s Avenue Gabriel and Pat Fahy’s Ballybacka Queen also make the journey having met twice before, with Deegan’s filly coming out on top narrowly on both occasions.
Deegan feels if Rizeena is in the same form as she was in the Moyglare then she will win, but he is hoping to nick a place with Avenue Gabriel.
“She did well to win the last day and she’s improving all the time,” said Deegan. “On ratings she’s a lot to find and I’d be more than happy to be third.”
- Miracle Of Medinah is proving a chip off the old block as he caused something of a surprise in the Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket yesterday.
His sire Milk It Mick had been similarly industrious during his first season before winning this Group Three event back in 2003 and following up in the Dewhurst Stakes at 33-1.
Named after last year’s Ryder Cup turnaround, and coming a day after the amazing America’s Cup comeback, the juvenile was on a recovery mission of his own after a couple of moderate outings but he picked up strongly for Liam Keniry to beat fair yardstick and 11-4 favourite Cable Bay by a length and a quarter.
“He is a bit of a fairytale as I only paid three grand for him, and it’s a bit like his sire, really,” said trainer Mark Usher.
“We might look at the Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury if the ground stays quick and then we will put him away.”
