JEREMY NOSEDA felt supplementing Talwar for Saturday’s Goffs National Stakes at the Curragh was “a gamble worth taking”.
The Newmarket trainer persuaded owner Vimal Khosla to part with his cash in order to give his juvenile what he feels is a reasonable chance of a Group One victory. Talwar has won three of his four starts so far, with the highlight being an easy victory in last month’s Solario Stakes at Sandown. “Talwar is in good shape,” said Noseda.
“He’s quite a lazy worker at home but is a tough, honest performer who has progressed with every race on the racetrack. I had never entered him for the National but I looked through the entries and my personal hunch at this moment was that the Irish two-year-olds are possibly a little bit below what you would expect at this time of year.”
Meanwhile, Sarafina has a choice of engagements on the Arc Trials card at Longchamp on Sunday. The Aga Khan’s filly could use either the Qatar Prix Vermeille or the Qatar Prix Foy as her prep race for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe next month.
She was third in the Vermeille last year before taking third place behind Workforce in the big race itself. Winner of her last two starts this term, Alain de Royer-Dupre’s charge was promoted to ante-post favourite for the Arc following the retirement of Investec Derby hero Pour Moi.
There are currently seven possibles in the two races, both over the Arc course and distance. Her stablemate Shareta is entered in the Vermeille, restricted to fillies, along with Goldikova’s half-sister Galikova, trained by Freddie Head. Aidan O’Brien has Wonder Of Wonders, who also has the option of the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.
O’Brien has Coronation Cup victor St Nicholas Abbey and Windsor Palace in the Foy.
Meandre is now seen as trainer Andre Fabre’s main Arc contender after Pour Moi’s defection and puts his claims on the line in the Prix Niel. The Grand Prix de Paris winner has six potential rivals including another Fabre inmate, King Of Arnor.
De Royer-Dupre is double-handed with Prix du Jockey Club scorer Reliable Man and Vadamar, who has not raced since finishing seventh in the Derby at Epsom. St Leger hopeful Seville is O’Brien’s sole Niel entry.
