Tag Archive for: Michael Bell

Spicy Marg all set to take on her elders in Nunthorpe

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Spicy Marg is set to be supplemented for next week’s Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

An impressive winner on her Newmarket debut in early June, Michael Bell’s charge subsequently disappointed in the Queen Mary and the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, but bounced back to form in some style over five furlongs at Goodwood two weeks ago.

As a juvenile filly Spicy Marg will carry just eight stone if she steps up to take on her elders at Group One level on the Knavesmire and Bell is keen to roll the dice.

He said: “The plan is to give it a go. All the speed analysts seem to think she should be having a crack at it – her figures are very, very good – and she clearly is in very good form.

“I think it’s very relevant her dam (Main Desire) won two Listed races over five furlongs on the Knavesmire, so it’s in her genes she should like the track and I strongly think she will.

“We’re very happy with her and very much looking forward to it.”

Connections are ready to pay the £40,000 supplementary fee to add Spicy Marg to the Nunthorpe field at the weekend, with Hong Kong-based rider Harry Bentley booked for the ride.

“Harry is waiting for his licence to be rubber-stamped by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he tells me that’s a formality, so the intention is for him to ride,” said Bell, who won the Nunthorpe in 2011 with Margot Did.

“She wants good, fast ground. We’ll wait until Saturday to confirm it, but the intention is very much to supplement her at this stage.”

Another filly bound for the Nunthorpe is the William Knight-trained Frost at Dawn, who was a neck second to American Affair in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing fourth in the King George at Goodwood.

Knight said: “She doesn’t need to do much between now and then, she’s put her weight back on already.

“I just hope and pray the rain stays away at York and if it’s good to firm ground there I think she could run a massive race.

“I think she’s in the form of her life at the moment, she just looks so much stronger this year, and I think York will really suit her as a track.

“I just think it’s key that rain stays away and we get a good preparation from now into York. If she can repeat the form from her Ascot run, that puts her bang there.”

Bell banking on Spicy Marg proving too hot to handle

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Michael Bell believes Spicy Marg can put a below-par performance in the Queen Mary behind her when she takes her chance in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.

The daughter of Starspangledbanner won impressively on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile track on debut, galloping home by two and three-quarter length, and hopes were high ahead of her step up to Group Two level at Royal Ascot.

However, Bell believes her chances were hindered by being in season and is confident a different horse will be on show on the July Course.

Asked if she can bounce back, Bell said: “Very much so. She’s trained well since Ascot where there were a couple of mitigating circumstances, so hopefully she can show what she’s capable of on Friday.

“She came back in season. I don’t think it’s anything definitive or if there’s any records of if horses do or don’t under-perform in season, but I think most horses seem to in my experience.

“She carried her tail very high immediately after the race, so I’m hoping that is the reason because we still believe she’s a very nice filly.

“(Fifth-placed) Staya’s subsequent win is a positive. Our filly was stuck on the wing and hit the front too early. A lot of things went against us.

“We’re hoping for a kind draw in the middle of the field, get a lead and then it’s up to her to show what we think she’s capable of. She likes playing at home you could say.”

Bell backing Spicy Marg to pack Ascot punch

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Michael Bell is confident Spicy Marg can do herself justice when she steps up to Group company in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Starspangledbanner filly sparkled on her racecourse debut, coming home two and three-quarter lengths clear at Newmarket on Guineas weekend and Bell is delighted with preparations and the draw in Berkshire.

Spicy Marg will be partnered by Kieran Shoemark, and Bell said: “She’s all locked and loaded and we’re very happy with her well-being.

“It (the draw) looks good, we’ve got Staya on our inside and all the major players seem to be drawn between eight and 15, so I think they’re all in our sights so I’m very happy with the draw.

“It is a step up but the clock seems to say that she deserves to be in the race and she looks smart at home, so we’ll see what happens on the day.”

The Karl Burke-trained Zelaina is another who made an impressive debut when scooting home by the same winning margin as Spicy Marg at Nottingham.

Richard Brown, racing adviser to owners Wathnan, said: “We were delighted with Nottingham and we were excited the day we bought her, we were excited when we heard the reports from Karl, but she had had an interrupted prep going into Nottingham.

“She had banged a knee and she had missed 10 days so was definitely undercooked going there.

“We definitely think there is more improvement to come and she was very impressive. You have to be really excited about her and she’s definitely one of the big hopes of the week.

“It’s a Queen Mary and lots of people are thinking they have a big hope, but we think we do and we just need that bit of luck. They will be spread across the track and it will be a big field and fingers crossed she can do the job as she’s a filly we’re really excited about.”

American runner Lennilu puts her unbeaten record on the line after winning on the dirt at Keeneland and following it up with a turf victory at Gulfstream Park.

Trainer Patrick Biancone, who began his career in France when he sent out back-to-back Arc winners in All Along and Sagace, is happy with preparations and reported his filly was unfazed by the trip from America.

He said: “She won her maiden easily. We then decided to train her hopefully for the Queen Mary and we won the prep race that was sponsored by Gulfstream. She won that easily too. We were expecting her to run well there, but expecting it is one thing, doing it is another.

“She travelled very well. She’s walking around well now, she slept really well. We knew she’d travel well because when she ran in Keeneland she had to go 17 hours there and 17 more to come back and she took it very well.

“Ascot is a special place for every trainer in the world, especially the Royal meeting. I’ve been lucky in my life to have good horses and she’s one of them. We’re very happy.”

Aidan O’Brien will be represented by True Love, while other major players include Ralph Beckett’s Society Kiss and George Scott’s Staya in a field of 25.