Latest horse racing news from UK, Ireland, and around the world.

Havana Anna sets up Group-race targets in Naas success

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Havana Anna enhanced her reputation with a commanding victory in the Arqana Irish EBF Marwell Stakes at Naas.

Not disgraced behind Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad on debut before headed late when beaten a neck by Ger Lyons’ Anglesey Stakes scorer Suzy Songs on her second start, Donnacha O’Brien’s talented youngster was returning to the scene of her impressive six-length maiden success late last month.

Sent off the 6-4 favourite in the hands of Gavin Ryan, Havana Anna travelled powerfully throughout the Listed event before asserting late on to run out a three-and-a-half-length winner over Ipanema Queen.

It was a performance deemed worthy of slicing her odds from 16-1 to 8s for the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York on August 21 with bigger days certainly lying ahead for the speedy daughter of Havana Grey.

“She’s a smart filly, she’s taken the step up in grade very well,” said O’Brien.

“She’s exciting and she could be one for the best of those five- and six-furlong fillies’ races.

“They went a good gallop, she has loads of pace, and came over stands side which was fine. She’s straightforward, I know she leans a bit left under pressure.

“It’s something she’s always done in her races, but she doesn’t do it at home. It doesn’t seem to stop her, and while she’s winning I don’t see the need for headgear or anything like that it’s just something that she does.

“I have her in the Lowther. We’ll see how she comes out of it and make a plan then.

“You’d be hoping that she could make into a Cheveley Park filly. We’ll work back from there, it’s probably an option.”

The other Listed race on the card, the six-furlong Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF Stakes for fillies and mares, went to the William Haggas-trained Sky Majesty (11-10 favourite) in the hands of Tom Marquand.

Lazy Griff’s route to Doncaster still open to discussion

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Connections of Lazy Griff have yet to decide whether to give the top-class colt another run ahead of a planned third tilt at Classic glory in the Betfred St Leger.

Charlie Johnston’s three-year-old has bumped into the Aidan O’Brien-trained Lambourn on each of his three previous starts this season, finishing second in the Chester Vase and the Derby at Epsom before making late gains into third place in the Irish Derby.

A fourth clash could be on the cards at Doncaster in September, with Lambourn the 15-8 favourite and Lazy Griff a 7-1 shot for the Leger with Paddy Power – but whether the latter will be seen in action before the Town Moor showpiece remains to be seen.

“He’s fine and back cantering now and I need to have a chat with Mike Prince and the Middleham Park team, just to thrash out what route we’re going to go down,” said Johnston.

“We haven’t come to any firm decisions on that yet, but whatever we do it will all revolve around the Leger, that’s for sure.

“I think we’re probably looking for him to have two more runs this year and it’s just a question of whether we run him somewhere between now and the Leger or we go straight to the Leger and have another run after that at the back-end of the season. That is the conversation that needs to be had.

“He had a couple of easy weeks as the main priority was to get the horse out of Ireland in good shape and back cantering and we’ve done that, so the tough bit now is deciding what to do next.

“They’re nice decisions to have to make, I wouldn’t mind plenty more of them.”

Illinois part of strong-looking cast for Goodwood Cup

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Gold Cup runner-up Illinois is the star name among nine confirmations for the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.

The two-mile contest is the feature event on the opening afternoon of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Tuesday and with his Royal Ascot conqueror Trawlerman not in attendance, Illinois is the odds-on favourite to break his Group One duck for Aidan O’Brien.

The Ballydoyle handler has also left in his runaway Bahrain Trophy winner Scandinavia, who is the only three-year-old in the potential field, while in Trawlerman’s absence John and Thady Gosden could saddle the improving French Master, consistent stayer Sweet William and Military Academy.

Alan King will be encouraged to see some ease in the ground for his 2022 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan, who has not been seen in competitive action since finishing fourth at ParisLongchamp in late May.

Saeed bin Suroor’s Gold Cup third Dubai Future, the Andrew Balding-trained Subsequent and Sunway from David Menuisier’s yard are the other contenders, with the latter poised for a first outing over two miles after finishing fourth in the Hardwicke Stakes last month.

Menuisier said: “He ran well at Ascot and Oisin (Murphy) felt he’d be better over further.

“He stayed a mile and three-quarters in the St Leger last year so we’re hopeful he’ll get the trip. The blinkers seemed to help him concentrate, so we’ll keep them on.”

The Pulborough-based trainer also houses an interesting contender for the Group Two Coral Vintage Stakes on the same card in the form of Goodwood Galaxy, who is owned by the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group and made a strong impression when winning on debut at Salisbury earlier this month.

“He’s really well and on Tuesday, he did a piece of work and came through it like nothing happened, so I’m very pleased,” Menuisier added.

“When you win first time out, you really only have two options, go for a novice with a 7lb penalty, or take a shot at a stakes race. These days, novices and maidens are so strong that you can easily bump into a Godolphin or a Gosden horse that turns out to be Group class, and you’re giving them weight. At least in a stakes race you know it’s a good level, but at level weights.

“Goodwood is our back garden, so we’re going there relaxed and grateful to have such a nice horse in the yard, but we’re going there to try and win.

“Glorious Goodwood is very close to my heart, more so than Royal Ascot, if I’m honest. It’s the meeting of the year where you want to go and show your colours. Training for the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group there, it’s nearly a dream come true.”

Goodwood Galaxy is one of 18 juveniles in contention for the Vintage, with Aidan O’Brien’s pair of Brussels and Dorset, Charlie Appleby’s Pacific Avenue and Eve Johnson Houghton’s July Stakes victor Zavateri among the leading hopes.

Group Two honours also up for grabs in the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, which features Ralph Beckett’s dual winner Kinross, the Gosden-trained defending champion Audience and Andrew Balding’s French Guineas runner-up Jonquil.

Katie Davis ‘can’t wait’ to take to Shergar Cup stage

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Netflix star Katie Davis promises to be one of the headline acts in the latest edition of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot.

Born and raised in Saratoga Springs, New York, Davis has more than 300 wins in her career so far and featured in the recent ‘Race for the Crown’ series, centred on the Triple Crown in America.

She joins riders from 10 different countries for the August 9 event, riding alongside Hugh Bowman (Australia) and Karis Teetan (Mauritius) in the Rest of the World team.

Davis, 33, said: “I am so excited to be riding in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup this year. It was amazing to be invited and it should be a great buzz to ride on such a big day at Ascot, one of the most famous racecourses in the world.

“I think it’s great what they have done with the teams this year and I can’t wait to compete with Hugh and Karis in the Rest of the World team along with all the other jockeys from across the globe.”

With the Ladies team no longer part of the long-running competition for the first time, Joanna Mason will join Hollie Doyle and Robbie Dolan in the Great Britain & Ireland side.

Europe will consist of Delphine Santiago from France, Dario Di Tocco (Italy) and Per-Anders Graberg (Sweden).

The riders for the newly-formed Asia squad are Suraj Narredu (India), Ryusei Sakai (Japan) and Mirai Iwata (Japan).

Hayynah could be another to Star for Sangster

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Hayynah may be the only runner in the European Bloodstock News EBF Star Stakes yet to register a victory, but is backed to give Ollie Sangster a third straight success in the Sandown Listed event.

The daughter of Showcasing has shown great potential when hitting the crossbar in two outings to date and her handler is optimistic a step up to seven furlongs can see her thrive in a race he has made his own in recent years.

Sangster said: “She’s the only one in there who hasn’t won, but we feel her seconds have been good performances that can be marked up a bit.

“I hope the step up to seven furlongs will bring about some improvement and she’s a home bred of owner Ahmad Ziad Galadari so it would be nice to go there and pick up some black type.”

It was Shuwari who helped advertise Sangster’s ability as a trainer when landing this race in 2023, and after Celestial Orbit repeated the dose 12 months ago, the Manton handler admits the pressure was on to find another suitable candidate for this year’s contest.

He added: “It’s been a lucky race for us so I wanted to find something nice for it. I’m not sure she’s of the calibre of the fillies we’ve run in the race the last two years, but she seems to be progressing.

“There’s only 10 days between this and her last run at Windsor which is perhaps a little soon, but I don’t think she had an overly hard race last time and hopefully the stiff nature of the finish at Sandown might be beneficial for her.

“It’s not a big field but there’s some nice fillies in there who have won good maidens, so no doubt there is a bit of depth to it.”

Hayynah is among a field of eight for the feature event on Thursday’s card, with Richard Hannon’s taking Newmarket scorer Orion’s Belt chief leading the opposition.

John and Thady Gosden won this with Inspiral in 2021 and rely on Albany Stakes seventh Nandita, who steps up in trip while dropping in grade, with Charlie Johnston is another to win this race in recent years and his Jennifer Jane is already proven over the distance after a runaway win at Wetherby on her second start.

Edward Smyth-Osbourne’s Haydock scorer Tavana, Karl Burke’s Hope Queen and James Ferguson’s Electoral College have all raced once and one once, with Eve Johnston Houghton’s Mystic Moment the most experienced in the field and set to make her fifth start after opening her account at Epsom.

Setback signals the end of Scenic’s racing career

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Ed Walker’s high-class filly Scenic has been retired after suffering a setback, her owners Wathnan Racing have announced.

The daughter of Lope De Vega had made a fine start to her five-year-old campaign, with a Group Three triumph in York’s Bronte Cup prompting the Wathnan team to purchase her from previous owner David Ward.

She made a promising debut for her new connections when pushing red-hot favourite Estrange all the way in the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock and was being readied for the Lillie Langtry Stakes at next week’s Qatar Goodwood Festival, but her racing career has come to an abrupt end.

Wathnan Racing’s adviser, Richard Brown, said: “Scenic put up a career-best performance last time out and it wasn’t unreasonable to hope for some even greater days ahead, but it’s not to be.

“She will spend some time recuperating before joining the Wathnan broodmare band. She’s one of the best fillies in an exceptional Classic family of broodmares, so the dream now is of big successes with her progeny.”

Lord Allen proposals given full support of Jockey Club

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The Jockey Club has thrown its support behind proposals from intended new chair Lord Allen to make the British Horseracing Authority’s board fully independent in future.

Allen was due to take up the role on June 2 but his tenure was delayed as the BHA said he wished to “continue meeting stakeholders to better inform his vision for the sport”.

The BHA board currently has an independent chair, four independent directors and four member-nominated directors – two from the racecourses and two nominated by the sport’s participants – but Allen wants to change that arrangement.

Racecourses’ ownership of media rights and fixtures is reportedly one of the sticking points for a proposed governance shake-up, but Jockey Club CEO Jim Mullen feels that while further discussion on such matters is necessary, it would be to the sport’s benefit to create a “stronger regulatory body”.

He said: “Without a strong regulator it’s not possible for any sport to thrive and that’s why we are fully supportive of Lord Allen’s proposals for a fully independent BHA Board.

“There are still details on certain issues which will need to be thrashed out in time and to expect everyone to agree on everything would be unrealistic at best, a potential barrier to meaningful change at worst.

“We recognise that ownership of media rights and fixtures are extremely important to the profitably of racecourses and that’s where we are aligned with small and large independent courses and RCA members.

“However, we don’t believe that those views are incompatible with our strongly held opinion that British racing requires a fully independent regulator which is empowered to drive change, not only to benefit the sport now but for generations to come.

“We’re supportive of the consultative approach that Lord Allen is taking and the importance he has placed on taking counsel from those across the sport before forming an opinion. Ultimately, whether Lord Allen takes up his role or not, a process has started which we think has the very real potential to create a stronger regulatory body.”

William Buick booked for Field Of Gold at Goodwood

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William Buick will ride Field Of Gold in next week’s Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Narrowly beaten in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when partnered by Kieran Shoemark, John and Thady Gosden’s three-year-old has made no mistake in two subsequent starts under Juddmonte’s retained rider Colin Keane, emulating his sire Kingman with brilliant victories in both the Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

With Keane currently serving a suspension after contravening the whip rules, connections needed to secure a new pilot for Field Of Gold’s next appearance – and having revealed Buick was “on the list” of potential riders two weeks ago, he has now been confirmed for the high-profile mount.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, told the PA news agency: “I think John and Thady were to talk to William yesterday to confirm his availability and it sounds like they’ve done that and he’s free to ride him, so I’d say that’s the plan.

“In fairness, until you get to within a week of the event you don’t know what other trainers and jockeys are doing, but obviously William has been able to commit now which is good.

“He’s a top-class rider and rode a Group One winner for us last October on board Kalpana, so it’s good to have him on board.”

Field Of Gold is set to head a quality Juddmonte team bound for the Sussex Downs, with fellow three-year-olds Cosmic Year and Jonquil also poised for action.

Jonquil (left) winning the Greenham Stakes at Newbury
Jonquil (left) winning the Greenham Stakes at Newbury (David Davies/PA)

The Harry Charlton-trained Cosmic Year was second to Field Of Gold in the Irish 2,000 Guineas before failing to fire in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville, while Andrew Balding’s Greenham Stakes winner and French Guineas runner-up Jonquil will step back up in trip after finding the six furlongs of the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot too sharp.

Field Of Gold’s Lockinge-winning stablemate Lead Artist meanwhile holds a Sussex Stakes entry, but appears unlikely to be on the Goodwood squad.

“I’d say Cosmic Year will run in the Thoroughbred Stakes, the Group Three over a mile, at the minute that’s the plan,” Mahon added.

“Jonquil worked nicely this morning and he’s a probable to run in the Lennox over seven (furlongs).

“Lead Artist is in the Sussex, but I’d say he’s more likely to wait. He won’t run against Field Of Gold I’d imagine, so I’m not sure what the plans are for him at this stage.”

Racing Bulletin for 23/07/2025

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Latest News and Features

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Today's Racing

Click on course names to view our course guides. Click on race times to access that racecard. Times highlighted in yellow are free races of the day.

Wexford

Yielding

 14:08 14:38 15:08 15:38 16:10 16:45 17:20
Salisbury

Good to Firm

 14:15 14:50 15:20 15:50 16:20 16:53
Catterick

Soft

 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00
Naas

Yielding to Soft

 17:07 17:37 18:10 18:40 19:10 19:45 20:20
Doncaster

Soft

 17:15 17:45 18:20 18:50 19:20 19:55 20:30
Leicester

Good to Soft

 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:33 20:08 20:40

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Revisiting All-Weather Draw Biases

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Derek Thompson signs off at Wolverhampton

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Even though there was a clear winner, a trademark shout of “photo!” from Derek Thompson was an appropriate way of bringing the curtain down on his 60-year commentary career at Wolverhampton.

Thompson announced late last year he would retire from commentating in 2025 and subsequently identified Tuesday night’s six-race fixture at Dunstall Park as his last ahead of his upcoming 75th birthday.

With well wishers aplenty on track, ‘Tommo’ called home the first three winners on the card, his final race being the appropriately named It’s A Photo – Big Fella EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

The Marco Botti-trained Space Bear (100-30) was a decisive two-length winner in the hands of Luke Morris, but that did not stop Thompson having some fun inside the final furlong, as he said: “Space Bear now takes it up, from Jowalla, coming from a long way back is Lyra Lea, but it’s Space Bear whose going to win the It’s A Photo – Big Fella European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes!”

Ian Bartlett commentated on the final three races, but Thompson remained in the thick of the action and was on hand to present the connections of Ballsgrove Boy with their winner’s prize following his success in the concluding Thanks For Everything Tommo – Happy Retirement Handicap.

Thompson told Sky Sports Racing: “It has been absolutely incredible, I’m nearly shedding a tear. It’s a ridiculous as I’m a tough cookie, but this is marvellous tonight.

“I’ve enjoyed it and people have come from all over to be here tonight. Normally after the last race people are rushing off to their cars but we’d had thousands here, it’s superb.”

On his final call, he added: “I’ll never ever forget it. I’m quite moved and it’s difficult to concentrate as I’m not working any more – I’m talking into the microphone, but I’m not holding it.”

Thompson remains one of the most recognisable figures in the racing industry having spent time commentating on-course and for BBC radio, while also presenting for ITV, Channel 4, At The Races and Sky Sports Racing during a nearly 60-year broadcasting career.

He was even part of a three-strong party alongside Lord Oaksey and The Sun’s Peter Campling that attempted to negotiate the release of Shergar after the 1981 Derby winner was kidnapped.

And while his long spell commentating in Britain has come to an end, Thompson has no intention of hanging up his microphone entirely, with several racecourses continuing to use him as a raceday presenter, while he will also continue his association with racing in Jersey.

Derek Thompson at York last year
Derek Thompson at York last year (Mike Egerton/PA)

He said: “I’ve got Ascot at lunchtime on Friday and then York on Friday evening, Ascot on Saturday and then go to Jersey on Saturday night/Sunday.

“I am going to settle down a bit and enjoy. I am going to miss the commentary because the commentary box is the best view and the best seat in the house.”

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing presenter Simon Mapletoft, Thompson signed off perfectly with: “I’ve had a great career. Thanks big fella and by the way, it’s a photo!”

Charles ‘working on’ producing a contender for the Derby

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The King has said he is working on producing a runner for one of the greatest spectacles in the racing calendar – the Derby.

Charles’s comment came when he and the Queen visited the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket, after touring the nearby National Stud.

There they met the stallion Stradivarius, the champion stayer who retired to take up breeding duties after accruing over £3million in prize-money across 20 victories, including three Gold Cups at Royal Ascot.

The couple went on a meet and greet with the public after more than 1,000 people flocked to the Suffolk town’s centre and the King, who is receiving ongoing cancer treatment, spoke about his health.

The King meeting the public in Newmarket
The King meeting supporters in Newmarket, Suffolk (Darren Staples/PA)

Lee Harman, 54, from Bury St Edmunds, said: “I asked him how he was, and he said he was feeling a lot better now and that it was ‘just one of those things’.”

After telling Charles about his own cancer issues, Mr Harman said: “He asked me how I was and I said ‘I’m all good’, I got the all clear from cancer last year.”

Thoroughbreds owned by the late Queen won four out of the five Flat racing classics – the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, the Oaks twice and the St Leger – with only the Derby eluding her.

Now it appears the King, who took on Elizabeth II’s stable of horses with his wife, is aiming to have a thoroughbred ready for the premier Classic, having had Desert Hero finish third in the 2023 running of the St Leger at Doncaster.

King and Queen looking at a grey horse at the National Stud
Charles and Camilla admire a horse during a visit to the National Stud in Newmarket (Chris Radburn/PA)

As he toured the Jockey Club Rooms, a retreat for members and the public, he chatted to his racing manager John Warren, Jockey Club staff and members, and some of the chairs of racecourses run by the club, which include Newmarket, Epsom, Aintree and Cheltenham.

Brian Finch, chairman of Epsom Downs Racecourse, said after speaking to the King: “We were talking about him getting a Derby runner and he said ‘we’re working on it’.

“Everybody is hoping the royal family will have a Derby winner soon.”

Estrange on course for Yorkshire Oaks, with Paris on the horizon

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Estrange is poised to step up to Group One level at York next month.

The David O’Meara-trained four-year-old has been beaten only once in her five-race career to date and created a huge impression when winning the Group Three Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes at Haydock in a canter in May.

In fact so impressive was she that day, an entry made by owners Cheveley Park Stud for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe did not look too fanciful.

She returned to the Merseyside track for a more hard-fought success over Scenic in the Group Two Lancashire Oaks, and now a test of her credentials at the highest level awaits on the Knavesmire in the Yorkshire Oaks on August 21.

Estrange was in cruise control at Haydock in May
Estrange was in cruise control at Haydock in May (Martin Rickett/PA)

“She’s come out of the Lancashire Oaks great,” O’Meara said of his star filly.

“She hardly had a race really, it was a two-and-a-half-furlong dash that day really which turned into a sprint. She’s fine, she’s in good order.

Estrange is a best-priced 25-1 for Paris, although as short as 12-1 in a place, and O’Meara added: “York (is the next port of call) and if she carries on going well then the Arc de Triomphe is the ultimate goal.”

Ross O’Sullivan eyeing more Galway Festival gains

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Ross O’Sullivan is readying a strong squad for this season’s Galway Summer Festival after enjoying a fruitful meeting last year.

The stable sent out three winners for the showpiece fixture 12 months ago, all of whom return to the track this time around alongside further hopes both on the Flat and under the National Hunt code.

Donnie Devito, who took the Guinness Novice Hurdle last year, turns his hand to chasing and will take on stablemate and fellow Galway winner Talk In the Park over fences.

“The three winners from last year will go there, unfortunately two of them are taking each other on,” said O’Sullivan.

“Donnie Devito and Talk In The Park will both go for the beginners’ chase on Friday.”

Volantis bids to retain his title in the Guinness Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle, whereas smart bumper horse turned hurdler Strong Link makes his Galway debut and the Listed winner Chally Chute aims to go one better than last year’s effort in the Guinness Handicap.

O’Sullivan said: “Volantis, last year’s winner of the good handicap which now runs on the Saturday will go back for that. He’s had a prep run on the Flat like last year and much the same preparation as last year.

“Strong Link has won a bumper and maiden hurdle, he goes for the novice hurdle that Donnie Devito won last year.

“The young pretender is Strong Link, he hasn’t put a foot wrong and has good winter form in bumpers.

“He’s transferred that to winning in the summer and because he’s up and coming he’d be the one that we’re really looking forward to.

“Last year Chally Chute was second in the good Flat handicap over a mile and a half, the Guinness Handicap. He goes back for the same race again having won a Listed race.”

Eustace’s Ascot heroes hunting more glory at Goodwood

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Harry Eustace could be in line for another week to remember as stable stars Docklands and Time For Sandals prepare for their respective targets at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Both horses shone at Group One level at Royal Ascot in June, with Docklands kicking off the meeting with a surprise 16-1 success in the Queen Anne Stakes before Time For Sandals came to the fore at 25-1 in the Commonwealth Cup.

Docklands now heads for the Sussex Stakes on the South Downs next week, where he will face an incredibly strong field that includes dual Group One-winner Field Of Gold.

“Docklands has been super since the race and seems to have come out of it very well. He has done a couple of bits of work since,” said Eustace.

“He obviously came out of it race-fit, so it’s getting him into Goodwood in as good a form as we got him into Ascot.

“We are under no illusions regarding the opposition. We take on the three-year-olds, particularly Field of Gold, which will be the toughest opponent he’s faced so far, but he’s in as good a place as we have ever had him.”

Docklands has been ridden by various jockeys in the past and was something of a chance ride for Mark Zahra at Royal Ascot, with Tom Marquand now set to get the leg up as those former partners are unavailable.

Eustace confirmed: “Tom Marquand will ride in the Sussex. Mark rode him at Ascot and Richard (Kingscote, who rode on his first two starts this year) is off to Hong Kong.

“Finding someone who can commit over two or three races this year is difficult for a yard our size, but I’m obviously keen to get the best available. I have a good relationship with Tom through my time with William Haggas and I think he’ll suit him well.”

Time For Sandals is taking aim at the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood, a step back to five furlongs for the first time since her juvenile season.

Prior to Ascot the filly was second by just a head in the Prix Texanita at Chantilly, a performance that has developed into a good line of form as the winner, Woodshauna, landed the Group One Prix Jean Prat next time out.

Eustace said of his runner: “She’s come out of Ascot particularly well. It was a big effort and the extra few weeks have really helped her.

“The Chantilly form has worked out very well and the winner of that has won the Prix Jean Prat, so her form is beginning to stack up stronger than people maybe thought it did on the day.

“Goodwood, almost more so than Ascot, can be quite a tough place to travel horses because of the box journey up to the racetrack. Mentally, it asks more questions than Ascot, but both she and Docklands mentally are very strong so that part of it I have no concerns about, so it’s a real asset for them.”

McCreery has high hopes this season for Vespertilio

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Vespertilio is pencilled in for sprint targets in both Ireland and England after skipping the Minstrel Stakes at the weekend.

The filly was an intended runner in the Group Two at the Curragh on Sunday, but when the going description was changed to good to yielding trainer Willie McCreery opted to save her for more suitable ground.

The Phoenix Sprint Stakes is now on the agenda, over six furlongs at Group Three level at the Curragh, with the Sprint Cup at Haydock a longer-term aim later in the year.

“It was just that the ground changed and I thought that might take the sting out of her sprint,” McCreery said of Vespertilio’s withdrawal.

“We’d said we’d leave it as there are a couple of other races for her. She’s entered in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh, we could go for that, and then probably we’d have a look at the Haydock Sprint Cup.

“She’s come out this year a lot stronger and a lot more like a sprinter I think, hopefully I’m correct.

“We’ve got to give her another go at Group One level at one stage, I think sprinting is her game and I think she’s very, very fast.”

McCreery has another quality filly in Jancis, who is entered in the Valiant Stakes at Ascot on Saturday and will travel across to Berkshire if the going allows.

It is a step back to a mile for the chestnut, who was last seen finishing fifth in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh and prior to that was also fifth in the one-mile Lanwades Stud Stakes at the same track.

“She’s entered in the Valiant on Saturday at Ascot over the mile,” said McCreery.

“We’ll see what the ground is like for her, she needs quick ground so hopefully we’ll get it and we’ll be able to travel over for Saturday.

“I have been trying to stretch her out to a mile and two furlongs to give her more options, but I think a faster trip suits her better so we’ll go back to the mile now.”

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