Tag Archive for: Bahrain Trophy Stakes

Scandinavia in a different league to Bahrain Trophy rivals

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Scandinavia was an emphatic winner when coming home unchallenged in the the Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket.

Aidan O’Brien’s Justify colt was the 11-8 favourite under Ryan Moore in a small field of five, and horse and rider were happy to travel along in the slipstream of early leader Furthur.

As the race progressed he loomed up beside the front runner to take the lead three furlongs from home and from there on it was plain sailing as he prevailed by an easy eight and a half lengths.

Paddy Power were very impressed and cut the winner to 6-1 from 20s for the Betfred St Leger.

Paul Smith, son of co-owner Derrick Smith, said: “He seems to have progressed nicely from Ascot and Ryan was very happy with him – he said he’s uncomplicated, he got into a lovely rhythm and we could have some fun with him over those longer distances now.

“He was out wide for a long way at Ascot but he bounced out of the race very well and really enjoyed the ground today.

“The Irish Leger and the English Leger, all those sort of races are open to him and he could be a Cup horse next year, perhaps. We can plot our way towards all those nice staying races at the end of the year now.”

The current ante-post favourite for the St Leger is stablemate and dual Derby winner Lambourn and Smith added: “There’s lots of options open and I think we’ll see how these horses get on over the festivals as after here we’ve got Goodwood and York coming up.

“He’s in the mix for all those top races.”

Owen backing Hallelujah U for big Bahrain run

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Hallelujah U will bid to turn the tables on past rivals in the Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket.

The James Owen-trained three-year-old is owned by the Gredley family and was last seen finishing sixth in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.

He was slow into his stride but was still close to the action when beaten two and a quarter lengths, with two of the horses ahead now set to line up against him again on the July course.

“He ran an absolute cracker in the Queen’s Vase and just looked a shade unlucky,” said Owen.

“Both the track and trip should suit him, if he could take even a tiny step forward then he’s going to have a big chance.

“He wasn’t far behind some of these horses at Ascot and he was still relatively unexposed there.

“Now he’s had that race he should come forward again, so we’re very much looking forward to running him.”

Opposing him will be Andrew Balding’s Furthur and Aidan O’Brien’s Scandinavia, second and fifth in the Queen’s Vase respectively.

Behind Hallelujah U in seventh place was Adrian Murray’s Titanium Emperor, who also runs at Newmarket, with Richard Hannon’s Nightime Dancer completing the field of five.

On the same card is the Listed Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, run over a mile for three-year-olds.

Godolphin have a trio of runners, with the Charlie Appleby-trained Heron Stakes winner Opera Ballo and stablemate Spectacular View joined by Saeed bin Suroor’s Arabian Story.

The latter horse has won both starts this season, taking an all-weather event at Chelmsford before landing the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“He’s come back in good form, he ran a huge race at Ascot,” said Bin Suroor of the Invincible Spirit colt.

“A mile is definitely his trip and he’s going from a handicap to a Listed race to try to get some black-type form for him.

“We’ll see how that goes, we’re really looking forward to running him on Thursday.”

Of his two runners, Appleby said via the Godolphin website: “We were delighted to get Opera Ballo back on track in the Heron Stakes.

“He has a penalty to carry, but he has done very well since Sandown and we are hoping to use this as a building block towards a nice campaign in the second half of the season.

“It suits Spectacular View to be ridden prominently and he won’t mind the ground or trip.”

Also involved is Charles Hills’ Elarak, unbeaten in two novices this term, with Stan Moore’s Brian, Balding’s Royal Playwright and Hugo Palmer’s Seagulls Eleven all in the line-up too.

Hannon is represented by King Of Cities, who was last seen going down by fourth lengths in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.