Sandown hosts a trio of group contests on Friday's seven-race card with the bet365-sponsored G2 Mile and G3 Classic Trial vying for top billing on a mouthwatering programme. Jeff Smith's G1 Fillies' Mile, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Sussex S. heroine Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), a rare purchase for the Littleton Stud supremo, is the day's undoubted star attraction and will be a warm order in the G2 bet365 Mile. Her chief threat is Shadwell Estate Company's match-fit G1 2000 Guineas seventh Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who notched a conditions win at Thirsk on seasonal return earlier this month.
“We're very happy with Alcohol Free and she's further forward in her fitness and in her coat, which was not the case [at the same stage] last year,” her trainer Andrew Balding revealed. “It's very good prize-money, it's an important race and it will be nice to get her out and get her going. We've been really pleased in her work and her wellbeing, so we thought we'd have a run before making a decision on her summer targets. The things we know about her is she does stay a mile and seems to be better on a turning track. She's probably better with a little bit more give underfoot, but she has coped with faster ground. The one question we'll be asking ourselves after this, just to keep options open, is could we manage a drop in trip at some stage during the season. Races like the [G1] July Cup or [G1] Platinum Jubilee, if the ground was soft or on the slow side, are two options, certainly.”
Clash of the Rising Stars in the Classic Trial
Godolphin's G3 Zetland S. victor and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud third Goldspur (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the only one of seven nominees with pattern-race experience in the G3 bet365 Classic Trial, is the latest G1 Epsom Derby entry off Charlie Appleby's red-hot production line and another primed to test his Blue Riband mettle.
“We have been really pleased with how Goldspur has progressed over the winter,” the trainer said. “He broke his maiden at Sandown and went on to get some nice form in the book at Newmarket and Saint-Cloud. If he reproduces the top end of his juvenile form, he is going to be very competitive. Hopefully, this is a stepping-stone on to better things, and a step up in distance in time is going to see further improvement. Like all 3-year-olds at this time of year, everyone is trying to see where they fit in the rankings.”
Goldspur will be accompanied by fellow 'TDN Rising Stars' Cash (Ire) (Shamardal) and River Thames (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) making seasonal returns for David Simcock and Aidan O'Brien, respectively. Both are set for their first outings since acquiring this publication's seal of approval on debut last year.
Low Turnout for the Gordon Richards
Very much an undercard event, this year's renewal of the G3 bet365 Gordon Richards S. has attracted just three to the dance. Shadwell Estate Company's G3 Darley S. winner Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) sets the standard and will be favoured to get the better of G3 Rose of Lancaster S. victor Foxes Tales (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Listed Wolferton S. scorer Juan Elcano (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
Blueblood Blitz on the Undercard
Adding lustre to the day's black-type competition is a deep renewal of the Nordoff Robbins Charlie Watts Memorial Fillies' Novice S., the card's fifth event of the day won in 2019 by subsequent G2 Ribblesdale S. third Sparkle Roll (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), for 3-year-old fillies over a trip just shy of 10 furlongs. Sparkle Roll's Clarehaven base is responsible for three of the baker's dozen set to assemble for this year's edition headed by Lord Lloyd Webber's Darmoiselle (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is a daughter of the Watership Down operation's MG1SW distaffer Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) and thus a full-sister to MG1SW sire Too Darn Hot (GB), MG1SP G2 Middleton S. victrix Lah Ti Dar (GB) and stakes-winning G1 Prix de l'Opera third So Mi Dar (GB). (See “Observations” for more.)
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