Tag Archive for: Fred Darling

In-form Amo team mount dual assault on Fred Darling prize

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Olivia Maralda and Magical Sunset will try to keep up the momentum of Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing as they line up in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

From 20 runners, the purple colours have been carried to success on seven occasions in the last 14 days, victories that have included Mammas Girl in the Nell Gwyn and Indestructible in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket.

In what appears to be a hugely competitive, yet open renewal of the seven-furlong Group Three contest more familiar as the Fred Darling, Magical Sunset and Olivia Maralda both appear to have plenty going for them.

Magical Sunset, trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Kevin Stott, won three of her five races last season, signing off with victory over course and distance.

Tom Pennington, Amo’s racing manager, said: “To beat Sakheer on debut on quick ground at Windsor was impressive and she was a bit unlucky not to win the Goffs Million at the Curragh, she suffered some really bad interference at halfway.

“To then have the guts to run on and finish fourth, we were delighted with that.

“She obviously came back and won well at Leicester under James Doyle and then backed it up with the good win in the Radley Stakes at Newbury.

“We thought she would run well at Newbury but we didn’t think she would win by five lengths, so we were delighted by that.

“Richard is very happy with her and she has been showing him all the right signs at home.”

The Roger Varian-trained Olivia Maralda is drawn one, next to her stablemate. It will be her first run for the yard, having earned one win and three runner-up berths in five outings for Michael O’Callaghan last season.

Her sole success came in a maiden over course and distance before she was touched off by Meditate in the Group Two Debutante Stakes at the Curragh in September.

She was last seen finishing ninth of 14 to Commissioning in the Rockfel at Newmarket in September and makes her three-year-old debut against 13 rivals.

Pennington added: “I thought she was going to win the Debutante Stakes. She was sort of the last filly off the bridle and travelled into it very well.

“Then it was perhaps a bridge too far at Newmarket – she was just beginning to turn in her coat and it was probably just one race too many, she was over the top.

“Roger is very happy with her which is the main thing and she hasn’t missed a day this spring.”

Remarquee/Salisbury
Remarquee looked smart on debut at Salisbury (Simon Milham/PA)

Two fillies, who have each won their sole start, head the market.

Ralph Beckett’s Remarquee, a daughter of Kingman, took a seven-furlong Salisbury novice in fine style from Bresson last September, while Godolphin’s Bridestones, by Teofilo, scored with ease on her Yarmouth debut for John and Thady Gosden in October.

Beckett said: “She has done well this winter. She will need the run, but she is training well.”

Thady Gosden hopes Bridestones will continue the yard’s excellent form as she drops back a furlong.

He said: “She is a nicely-bred filly and has done well over the winter. It is a hugely competitive race, but we are looking forward to it. We will learn a bit more about her, I’m sure.”

Karl Burke, fresh from his Craven success with the Amo-owned Indestructible, saddles Swingalong, who won the Lowther at York in August before finishing four lengths behind Lezoo in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket on her last juvenile run.

Swingalong took York's Lowther and steps up to seven furlongs at Newbury
Swingalong took York’s Lowther and steps up to seven furlongs at Newbury (Mike Egerton/PA)

“She is in great form and has been training very well,” said Burke of the Showcasing filly, who steps up to seven furlongs for the first time.

“I’m confident she’ll stay the seven and we’ll make the decision about the mile after that.

“It is a competitive race, no doubt about it. There looks to be some very nice fillies in it, so it is going to be tough, but she is in good form.

“She’s matured really well and wintered very well and she looks great.”

Newbury reappearance possible for Mojo Star

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Richard Hannon’s Mojo Star could make his reappearance in what is shaping up to be a high-class Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

Runner-up in both the Derby and St Leger during his Classic season, he has been off the track since finishing second in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last year – his sole start at four.

He was due to return in the Further Flights Stakes at Nottingham last week, but having skipped that Colwick Park assignment on account of deteriorating ground, the Amo Racing-owned five-year-old could begin his march back to the Royal meeting in this 12-furlong Group Three.

“We did want to start him off at Nottingham, but I think we saw there with Trueshan getting beat and how bad the ground was, we made the right decision to not go there – we were happy to swerve that one,” said Tom Pennington, Amo’s racing and operations manager.

A maximum of 11 will go to post for the race better known as the John Porter and other notable names amongst the possibles include Charlie Appleby’s pair of Yibir and Hurricane Lane.

The latter accounted for Mojo Star when scooping Classic honours at Doncaster as a three-year-old, but Pennington is keen to point out that Amo’s son of Sea The Stars is a top operator in his own right and will always be facing off against stiff opposition.

He continued: “We’ve got to start somewhere and he’s that good of a horse, operating at a high level, that we’re always going to bump into one or two and we can’t be afraid of anyone.

Former St Leger winner Hurricane Lane is a possible for the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury
Former St Leger winner Hurricane Lane is a possible for the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Richard’s happy with him and as I’ve said before, this is a stepping stone to Royal Ascot and the Gold Cup and then those nice staying targets in the summer.

“We just need to get a run under his belt now. He’s been off the track for over 300 days and we just need to get the cobwebs blown away and get him back on track.”

Owners Godolphin are again well represented amongst the 22 entries for the Dubai Duty Free Stakes – also known as the Fred Darling – where Appleby’s Fairy Cross and John and Thady Gosden’s Bridestones will put their 1000 Guineas aspirations to the test.

Amo Racing are also double-handed in the race with Olivia Maralda potentially making her debut for Roger Varian and Magical Sunset bidding to build on an impressive course-and-distance success in the Radley Stakes in her final start at two.

Magical Sunset struck Listed gold at Newbury
Magical Sunset struck Listed gold at Newbury (Neil Morrice/PA)

“Olivia Maralda has been working well for Roger and he has been very pleased with her,” added Pennington.

“This has been her target all along but if that rain materialised Thursday/Friday, I would be worried because it is already soft, heavy in places now. She wouldn’t want it that extreme I wouldn’t think, so we’ll have to assess that nearer the time.

“Magical Sunset loves that ground – it was heavy when she won the Radley Stakes and she seems to thrive on it. She is a much better filly on it, so it will be a nice starting point for her.”

Of the remainder, Lowther Stakes one-two Swingalong (Karl Burke) and Queen Me (Kevin Ryan) could make the trip down from Yorkshire, with Small Oasis a possible Irish raider for Jessica Harrington.