RACING:GER LYONS secured a famous maiden Group One success with Lightening Pearl in last year's Cheveley Park Stakes and Co Tyrone trainer Andy Oliver is hoping lightning can strike twice at Newmarket this afternoon with Sendmylovetorose.
Oliver’s reputation has been repeatedly boosted this season but he suffered a reverse yesterday when a poor scope ruled his star colt First Cornerstone out of tomorrow’s Beresford at the Curragh.
Sendmylovetorose has been a stable stalwart though and only lost her unbeaten record when tried over seven furlongs for the first time in the Moyglare behind Sky Lantern earlier in the month.
She is back to six now and will again clash with the likely favourite Maureen who Sendmylovetorose beat by a neck in July’s Cherry Hinton Stakes as Oliver chases his first ever top-flight victory.
“This has been on her radar all year. She’s back at Newmarket and has done all her winning at six furlongs,” he said yesterday.
“She has done all her winning on easy ground. She handled good ground in the Moyglare but we would prefer some rain.”
Johnny Murtagh travels to Newmarket for a number of rides and is on the unbeaten Lowther winner Rosdhu Queen in the Cheveley Park while Joseph and Aidan O’Brien will also be in action up the Rowley Mile.
Their Blandford winner Up joins Kevin Prendergast’s La Collina in the Group One Sun Chariot Stakes as the Irish pair take on the French Guineas heroine, Beauty Parlour, and Chachamaidee, who got the Matron Stakes in the Leopardstown stewards room.
The O’Brien’s also run Afonso De Sousa in the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket but their attention will switch to New York tonight where last year’s Irish Derby winner, Treasure Beach, attempts to secure a first win of the season.
Jamie Spencer’s mount is one of just six lining up for the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic over a mile and a half at Belmont Park. The race is due off at 10.12pm Irish time. Treasure Beach has not hit top form this year and again clashes with the Arlington Million winner Little Mike and Point Of Entry who won a Man O’War Stakes in which the Irish star finished sixth. Ground conditions are likely to be soft as racing was cancelled at the New York track yesterday.
It’s jumping action at Navan today and the nine-year-old Tofino Bay can make up for lost time on his fencing debut in the Beginners Chase. The Gigginstown hope won a point-to-point in 2008 yet is having just the ninth start of his racecourse career today. His hurdles form at the end of last season was very good however and Tofino Bay can beat Noel Meade’s Silverhand and Johannisberger.
Photo-finishes are to be displayed to a wider audience from Monday, the British Horseracing Authority have announced.
Already available at racecourses, prints for first place of a head or less are to be displayed on Racing UK, At The Races and in betting shops, subject to schedules permitting.
