Tag Archive for: Ollie Sangster

Sangster hoping Flight can take off in Oh So Sharp

Ollie Sangster is confident the runway is clear for Flight to play a starring role in the Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.

The daughter of Siyouni bumped into smart operators Flaming Stone and Fillies’ Mile hope Desert Flower before opening her account in style at Sandown, a result that propelled her into Group company at Doncaster last month.

Desert Flower again proved a thorn in her side in the May Hill Stakes as Flight tired late on over a mile on Town Moor.

However, she now drops back to seven furlongs, with her handler hopeful his filly can jet her way to the head of proceedings on the Rowley Mile.

“She ran very well in the May Hill and travelled very strongly, she just didn’t see out the race as she got left out in front for quite a while,” said Sangster.

“The drop back to seven furlongs will suit, she’s obviously the highest-rated filly in the race and we expect her to run a nice race.

“I think it looks like a nice spot for her, there’s a filly of Ralph Beckett’s in there who could be a very talented filly, but we’re happy with how our filly is doing.”

As identified by Sangster, Ralph Beckett’s Cathedral appears a youngster of untold potential judged by the way the €800,000 purchase sauntered to victory at Lingfield on debut.

The Amo Racing-owned daughter of Too Darn Hot is the likely favourite for this Group Three event on just her second start, while also testing their mettle in deeper waters is William Haggas’ First Instinct who has shown a good attitude to win both outings so far.

The Somerville Lodge inmate will be partnered by Tom Marquand, who has been pleased with what he has seen so far from his mount.

He said: “She did very well to win at Nottingham and went for another educational run. She did well to get up late and then she went to Haydock and did the same, which is hard when you’ve only had one run and are carrying a penalty.

“I thought she did very well to go and run down the (Richard) Fahey horse (Stormy Impact) and I was impressed with her.”

First Instinct made a winning debut
First Instinct made a winning debut at Nottingham last month (PA)

He went on: “She deserves her step up to this, it’s kind of the natural route of progression and hopefully she stands up to the test.

“I’ve only sat on her on track and got the perfect impression of her, she has showed a lot of speed and a real nice attitude so she’s stepping into Group company for the right reasons.”

Carrying a similar profile to First Instinct is Charlie Appleby’s Magical Trail, who made a winning debut on Newmarket’s July course in the summer before successfully dropping back in trip under a penalty at Kempton.

Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “Magical Trail has progressed nicely with her first two starts and we feel that the return to seven furlongs is going to suit.

“We are hoping she can be a live contender, although it’s her first step into Pattern company and we will be wiser afterwards.”

Appleby and Godolphin also have the leading contenders for both the Group Two Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes and the Group Three Newmarket Pony Academy Pride Stakes.

In the former race they are represented by Noble Dynasty, who has not been seen since disappointing at Goodwood in July but has strong prior form over this track and trip.

“Noble Dynasty is in great order and we know that he likes this course and distance,” Appleby said.

“He fluffed the start in the Lennox Stakes on his most recent appearance but should be a major player at this level judged on his Criterion Stakes win.”

Dance Sequence is the stable’s hope in the Pride Stakes, another who looks to bounce back having finished last in the Prix de Diane after previously coming home second in the Oaks.

Appleby added: “Dance Sequence disappointed in the Prix de Diane and we gave her a nice break afterwards. She goes into this in great shape.”



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Simmering and McMonagle keeping partnership intact

Dylan Browne McMonagle might be missing out on the chance to partner Al Riffa in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but he has retained the ride aboard the supplemented Simmering in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac on Sunday.

McMonagle has been a regular aboard Joseph O’Brien’s Arc contender, steering the son of Wootton Bassett to both his Group One victories, including his most recent success in the Grosser Preis von Berlin.

But Al Riffa’s owner Masaaki Matsushima has handed Japanese stalwart Yutake Take the opportunity to be in the saddle at ParisLongchamp this weekend, leaving McMonagle without a ride in Europe’s richest middle-distance contest.

However, he will still be in action on the Bois de Boulogne having been called upon by Ollie Sangster to partner his star filly Simmering once again.

The duo successfully joined forces to claim Deauville’s Group Two Prix du Calvados in the summer, while the Irishman was also in the saddle when the Manton raider chased home subsequent Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Lake Victoria in the Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland.

“Dylan is going to ride her again, he has ridden her the last two starts and is riding very well. He knows her and was available and we’re very happy to use him,” said Sangster.

Simmering (left) chased home Lake Victoria at the Curragh
Simmering (left) chased home Lake Victoria at the Curragh (Niall Carson/PA)

It has cost connections €28,800 to add Simmering to the Boussac line-up where she is set to renew Moyglare rivalry with Aidan O’Brien’s Bedtime Story and also face the unbeaten French filly Zarigana.

However, Sangster explains this contest has always been on the cards for the talented daughter of Too Darn Hot, especially since changing ownership following her fine Royal Ascot performance behind Fairy Godmother.

“Since Al Shaqab purchased her it has been a race that has been provisionally earmarked, she wasn’t actually in it at the time so obviously we’ve had to supplement,” continued Sangster.

Ollie Sangster will saddle Simmering on Arc day
Ollie Sangster will saddle Simmering on Arc day (Mike Egerton/PA)

“It’s a big weekend for their team with lots of runners with it being sponsored by Qatar and the owners were keen to run.

“She came out of the Moyglare in good shape and has been training well since. It looks a competitive race but we’re looking forward to taking her over.”

Others to be supplemented for Sunday’s Group One action include John and Sean Quinn’s Breege who joins Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Big Rock in being added to the Prix de la Foret, while Alicja Karkosa’s Prix La Rochette runner-up Heybetli joins the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere ranks.



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Immediate plans still to be decided for Simmering

Simmering could have one more chance to bag a Group One victory this season, with connections weighing up options in France and America.

Trained by Ollie Sangster, the Too Darn Hot filly was bought by Al Shaqab Racing having finished second to Fairy Godmother in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Since then she has won the Princess Margaret Stakes, the Group Two Prix du Calvados at Deauville and then headed to Ireland last weekend for a strong renewal of the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Up against the likes of Chesham winner Bedtime Story, the highly-regarded Red Letter and Sweet Solera heroine Lake Victoria, it was the latter who came with a late withering run to win, with Simmering in second.

“She’s come out of the race very well, it was a a very good race with lots of well-regarded fillies in it,” said Sangster.

“She ran a very good race. Obviously we want to win but second was ultimately a very good result.

“We’ll see how she is, she does seem to have come out of it well but she’ll either be finished or she’ll have one more run.

“That would either be in the Prix Marcel Boussac or the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Turf). There are different timescales and different options to weigh up, but I suspect she’ll only have one more as she’s had a few quick runs since the end of July and the Princess Margaret.”

Flight (red hat) was a respectable third behind Desert Flower
Flight (red hat) was a respectable third behind Desert Flower (Mike Egerton/PA)

Sangster also saw another of his smart two-year-old fillies pick up some nice black type when Flight finished third in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last week behind the unbeaten Desert Flower.

“I thought she ran a very commendable race,” said Sangster.

“It would have been nice if she’d had something to take her further into the race as she was left in front a long way from home after travelling very well.

“She’s taken a big step up again and we’re happy with that. She’s a big filly and she’s really one for next year.

“She might have one more run, we’re thinking something like the Oh So Sharp, it would be nice to win a stakes race if we could so we’ll maybe work back from something like that for the time being.”



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Sangster has Flight ready for May Hill take-off

The career of Flight could well and truly take off when she heads to Doncaster for the Betfred May Hill Stakes on Thursday.

Ollie Sangster’s youngster had to settle for second when bumping into useful opposition in her first two starts, but there was not a hint of turbulence on her third outing, when she cruised to victory at Sandown in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

Connections will now be hoping the sky is the limit as she bids to continue her upwards trajectory stepping up in grade, having always been held in the highest regard by her handler, who has tasted stakes-level success with the likes of Simmering and Celestial Orbit this term.

“We were very happy with her performance at Sandown, it was straightforward enough and she displayed the promise we had been seeing all along,” said Sangster.

“She has come out of the race really well and obviously it’s a quick turnaround and a big step up in company but we have always felt she was a stakes-class filly.

“I think she has earned her shot at this type of race and she has been kind of learning on the job. It’s taken a while for the penny to drop and she’s improved for each run so far.

“I think she will improve again, I think a step up to a mile will also be a bonus. Hopefully she will run a nice race.”

Flight will rematch with Charlie Appleby’s unbeaten hotpot Desert Flower, who accounted for the Manton juvenile on Newmarket’s July course in the summer.

Desert Flower has impressed in two Newmarket appearances
Desert Flower has impressed in two Newmarket appearances (Nigel French/PA)

The daughter of Night Of Thunder enhanced her reputation at the same track on her second start and is sure to be a warm order attempting to remain unbeaten.

Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “Desert Flower won both her starts on the July course well and is going the right way.

“We feel that the step up to a mile here should hopefully bring about some more improvement, which will be needed at this level.

“We have been pleased with her preparation and are looking forward to seeing how she gets on in this company. Like much of the field, we will be a lot wiser after the race.”

Aidan O’Brien holds a strong hand saddling both easy Churchill Stakes scorer January and taking Tipperary maiden winner Ecstatic, who will be the mount of Ryan Moore.

Elsie’s Ruan could land a blow for Yorkshire and provide Gemma Tutty with the biggest success of her career if building on her Sweet Solera third, while Anshoda has already got Goodwood’s Prestige Stakes on her CV and now searches for more group honours.

David Loughnane’s filly confirmed the promise of her shock debut win and Star Stakes second when thriving on the Sussex Downs and having been acquired by Team Valor and Gary Barber prior to her Group Three Goodwood triumph, now tunes up for a trip to the Breeders’ Cup later in the year.

“It looks a more competitive race than Goodwood I would say and the Godolphin horse looks a fairly decent animal, but we will take our chance,” said Loughnane.

“I think she has taken a step forward since Goodwood and the step up to a mile will benefit her and any rain will also help.

“This is our next stepping stone to getting her prepped for the Breeders’ Cup. It’s super to have owners like Team Valor and Gary Barber in the yard, we’ve had a great start to training for them by winning the Prestige and hopefully it can be a long and successful partnership.”



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Flight jets home to prompt May Hill thoughts for Sangster

Flight looks to have booked her ticket to the Betfred May Hill Stakes after getting off the ground in the Tattersalls £40,000 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Sandown.

Second to the useful Flaming Stone on debut, Ollie Sangster’s youngster bumped into the talented prospect Desert Flower at Newmarket on her second start.

However, she gave her connections no cause for concern this time as the 5-6 favourite shed her maiden status in good style under Oisin Murphy.

Blessed with some talented two-year-old fillies this year, Sangster feels Flight is right up with the best of them and the Manton handler is tempted to pitch the daughter of Siyouni at Group Two level at Doncaster in the coming weeks.

“I think she is going to improve going up to a mile, she’s a big filly and I think with time and another winter on her back she will improve, but that was really good,” said Sangster.

“She’s right up there with the others. She’s taken a bit longer than the other fillies to come to hand, but I think the ability is there for sure and she’s exciting.

“Today was straightforward and she seems to have a good temperament. It’s nice when you can just jump and make your own plans and go from the front. It was smooth and a nice watch, she hasn’t had a hard race and I think we will have a provisional look at the May Hill.

“The logical next step is to go up to stakes company and something like the May Hill might suit. It comes quite soon but the nature of Doncaster, a galloping track and up at a mile with a bit of ease in the ground, I think would be perfect for this filly.”

Flight was the third leg of a successful afternoon for three-time champion jockey Murphy, who as well as claiming the Sky Bet Atalanta Stakes aboard Tamfana, successfully reunited with Glenfinnan to take the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap.

Glenfinnan toughed it out for Oisin Murphy
Glenfinnan toughed it out for Oisin Murphy (Steven Paston/PA)

Murphy had previously guided the four-year-old to victory when he was stabled with Andrew Balding, but was delighted to pick up the ride once again, with the 13-2 scorer now trained by Michael Dods.

“It was a little bit stop-start and I couldn’t get him to relax as much as I would have liked,” said Murphy.

“I’ve won on him before so was probably entitled to have another go on him, but he was good to finish off like that considering he was a bit keen through the race. He was brave in the straight and saw out the seven furlongs well.”

Clifford Lee received all the plaudits as Flying Frontier made a winning return to form in the Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap at Sandown.

A dual winner at three, James Tate’s son of Farhh has been somewhat out of sorts in his two outings this term, but roared back to form under a cute ride from Lee – who was partnering the colt for the first time since shedding his maiden at Carlisle last summer.

Flying Frontier bounced back at Sandown
Flying Frontier bounced back at Sandown (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s a funny horse and you have to just keep him interested and his mind on the job because he can drop himself out,” explained Philip Robinson, racing manager for owner Saeed Manana.

“I think Clifford did a wonderful job there, kept him interested and then made his mind up when he got there. He took the brave route which I think paid off. Keeping him interested amongst horses has paid dividends and he has gone forward for him.

“It’s not out of the question he runs in the Cambridgeshire and as long as he tells the trainer he’s in good form, I dare say he might have a go at it.”

Marcus Tregoning had already had a winner at Beverley by the time Corriamo (14-1) gave him an across-the-card double in the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Nursery Handicap, with the concluding Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap going the way of Michael Herrington’s 7-1 chance Good Earth.



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Monday Musings: Small Steps

After Simmering won the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot on King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes day late last month, Ben Sangster urged caution concerning his son Ollie’s burgeoning training career, writes Tony Stafford.

"Small steps," he maintained, after the filly in which, until just before that day, wife Lucy had been a partner with Justin Casse and Dr J Berk, came from a fair way back to get up close home.

Ryan Moore was on board the filly as she cemented the promise of her second spot behind the Moore-ridden Fairy Godmother in the Albany Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Ryan was otherwise engaged on his day job at the Curragh on Saturday, so Dylan Browne McMonagle sat in and Simmering, up a furlong as her run style had suggested it would, suited her to the extent of a three-length victory in the Group 2 Prix de Calvados at Deauville.

While the French are not always fast out of the blocks with two-year-old racing, perennial leading trainer (if M. Fabre doesn’t intervene) Jean-Claude Rouget isn’t quite so reticent. On the weekend of the big August sale at Arqana in Deauville, Rouget supplied an unbeaten-in-four filly, Fraise Des Bois, running in the colours of Prince Faisal bin Salman’s Denford Stud.

A triple winner at the provincial course at Tarbes in Southwestern France, an entire region where Rouget dominates affairs, the €75k daughter of Zelzal went on to a wide-margin win when stepped up to Listed class at Marseille Borely.

Inevitably on Saturday she shared the market with the UK challenger who, coincidentally, also cost 75k as a yearling, but in real money as we used to call it!

Both fillies were moving up to seven furlongs for the first time and Simmering duly took the race apart after going ahead before the last 200 metres. McMonagle said afterwards he thought he probably went too soon, but there was no sign of weakness as Simmering strode up to and across the line.

You’d think the Moyglare – where she might renew rivalry with Fairy Godmother - would be an obvious target, but further down the line Ollie has the Breeders’ Cup in mind for this fast-improving filly.

Small steps – from Group 3 to Group 2 – seems to follow dad’s coda, but this win could hardly have been timed better. It came between the first two select evenings of the big August Arqana sale on the track’s doorstep.

Running in the colours of Al Shaqab, Ollie had already pulled one rabbit out of the hat by winning the Ascot race for them - they are closely involved in Qipco, a main sponsor of the Royal track – and now showed his worth again at the perfect moment.

Five horses were knocked down to Al Shaqab at the smallish Saturday night portion of the sale, so who would be the first to enter their thoughts having seen off a highly regarded home runner than the short-stepping Ollie?

Sorry Ben, this is a young man with a long, languid stride who is going all the way to the top. As George Boughey has shown, this sort of momentum can be hard to stop if the clients and the talent are there.

The history does stack up. Grandson of Robert, the man who, with John Magnier and Vincent O’Brien, rewrote racing history in the last quarter of the 20th Century. Since Robert’s death, sons Ben, backed by Guy, and in Australia another brother, Adam who ran the southern hemisphere end of Swettenham Stud, provided the ideal introduction to the family business.

Of course, Ollie’s uncle Sam, another of Robert's sons but not much older than Ollie, has been flourishing with his syndicates with Brian Meehan who, like Ollie, trains at Manton.

Stints working with Wesley Ward, both for a time in the US, but for years as his rep on this side of the Atlantic, could not have been a hindrance to his handling of juveniles. Also, his riding career was not to be discounted either. He won four races just over a decade ago for the late Alan Swinbank.

On Lothair at Carlisle in August 2013, he scored with a very professional ride – it was a race for inexperienced amateurs – but 50 yards after passing the post, he came off his mount. Refusing to drop the rein, he held on for at least another 100 yards, until the horse agreed to stop. While the unwritten rule is to let go, Ollie’s guts, horsemanship, strength and a determination not to give up already characterised him from that early point. No wonder Wesley trusted him to pony his horses to the start at Ascot.

It helped before starting his training career last year that a filly he shared (ten per cent) with mum Lucy and James Wigan, bought as a foal four years earlier for 55k, sold at the 2022 December sale for 3.6million gns. The filly was Saffron Beach, a multiple Group 1 winner trained by his aunt Jane Chapple-Hyam. “I was in her from the start,” Ollie avers.

When speaking to Ben after the Princess Margaret, I referred to what he’d mentioned earlier in the year, his dream that Ollie might one day transfer from the Red Post yard into the historic original main yard around Manton House itself where he grew up. “I’d love that”, said Ben. This could be a case of the irresistible force happening sooner than either of them anticipated.

**

When you reach my time of life, you can expect sad news coming around every corner. On Friday, unfortunately, I had a double helping. First my friend Malcolm Caine asked if I’d heard that David Myers had died. I hadn’t. A very clever owner/punter in the 1980’s with the equally clever if rather grumpy Epsom handler Mick Haynes, he’d developed kidney problems at a relatively young age and was on dialysis for many years.

He recently went into hospital for a leg operation and never regained consciousness. Such was his standing within the world of charities that he and his wife were invited to King Charles III’s coronation.

Then later that day an even more awful moment came when I heard from Sir Rupert Mackeson that Howard Wright had died, aged 79. Howard had a deserved tall reputation as a journalist with the Racing Post for many years as the many commendations about him have shown over the past few days.

I must add my own involvement in his story. When I took on a part-time job as Editor of The Racehorse weekly publication in the autumn of 1974, my first headline (unaccredited) was to tip the 25/1 Cesarewitch winner Ocean King, ridden by Tommy Carter and trained by Arthur Pitt, Alan Spence’s first trainer in Epsom.

Peter O’Sullevan was moved to send a letter of congratulation – to Roger Jackson, the greyhound man whose byline was prominently displayed! We did have a laugh about it a few times later as Peter and I knew each other rather better.

Tne Racehorse job involved working early Monday and Tuesday mornings, then off to the Daily Telegraph for late shifts. The need arose as I was paying back a debt to a Mr Lippman and needed the extra. Wednesday was print day, so I had to take my Telegraph day off and also worked Saturdays subbing the sports results for the Sunday Telegraph – thus a full seven-day week, but more like eight days a week really!

The Racehorse had a great team of writers, such as Roger Mortimer, T E Watson (Diary of a private handicapper) and, from the younger generation, Walter Glynn, Alan Amies and Howard Wright, who was assistant sports editor at the Sheffield Morning Telegraph, where I’m pretty sure as Fortunatus he won the Sporting Life naps table.

I never needed to speak to him. His copy came down each week, perfectly presented and never needing any correction. Then, when in 1979 I was appointed Racing Editor at the DT, I requested as my deputy someone from outside – Howard.

The bosses agreed, and happily, so did he. Some people in authority like to have yes men behind them and Howard was anything but that. When you had a day or a week off, you knew the job would be done properly – in all honesty with less of the flying by the shirttails of his boss.

It was no surprise (if rather annoying) when Howard was offered the chance to join the newly-instituted Racing Post in a senior role – one which he held for many years, specialising on the administration end of racing. His death after a short illness was so unexpected.

Will Lefebve, who started at the Press Association in 1969 one week before I did and remains a regular on the course on the big days, said he was with Howard negotiating the sale of some (by Will) historic racecards to Howard when he said he didn’t feel great.

We weren’t ever close, apart from the period of working together, but another friend Jeffrey Curry remembered a day at Kempton earlier this year when the three of us talked for some time in the owners’ room. Jeffrey (or Curly as he’s better known), said: “You’d have thought you were best mates!”

He took the steadfast accuracy of his working life to his family, with wife Anne and their two daughters. When someone dies, you can express your regrets, sympathise and move on. This one keeps coming back, even as I finish this totally inadequate memoire.

- TS



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Simmering proves far too smart for Deauville rivals

Simmering produced a performance full of class to claim an impressive win in the Group Two Prix du Calvados at Deauville.

Dylan Browne McMonagle gave Ollie Sangster’s juvenile filly a confident ride and she justified that faith by easing her way through to the front two furlongs from home.

Jean-Claude Rouget’s Fraise Des Bois, unbeaten in her first four starts, briefly looked as though she was going to prove a major threat.

However, Simmering found another gear when asked and powered away to prevail by three lengths, following up her Princess Margaret success at Ascot and earning a quote of 16-1 for next year’s 1000 Guineas from Coral.

“It was a much easier watch than the Princess Margaret,” said Sangster. “She travelled smoothly and put the race to bed really nicely.

“It was a lovely ride and I know Dylan from when I did my stint at Joseph’s (O’Brien). He’s a very nice rider, rides in a good style and kept it simple, which was always the plan.

“The step up to seven seemed to bring about improvement and I think the added racing also helped, there was an element of greenness there when she won at Ascot. I also think she will improve for some better ground and she’s a scopey filly and I don’t think she will just be a two-year-old.

“She will have a maximum of two more starts and the Breeders’ Cup is a possible option – and we’ve also got the Prix Marcel Boussac, which is something we would consider. It’s nice to have new owners in Al Shaqab in the yard and obviously Arc weekend is sponsored by Qatar, so it’s an option we will consider.”

Apples And Bananas kept on well from the front to land the Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage for Joseph O’Brien and McMonagle.

The son of Wootton Bassett comfortably held off the late charge of Rosa Salvaje to score by three-quarters of a length, with Charlie Johnston’s Lazy Griff a further three and a half lengths adrift in third.

Odds-on favourite Aventure came from last to first in the home straight to secure a cosy success in the Group Two Prix de Pomone for Christophe Ferland and Stephane Pasquier.

Jessica Harrington’s Trevaunance and the John and Thady Gosden-trained One Evening were only just behind at the line, but the winner appeared to have plenty in hand.



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Simmering all set to move up in trip at Deauville

Simmering heads to France for the next stop in her promising career when she steps up in trip for the Prix du Calvados at Deauville.

Third at York behind Prix Morny contender Arabie on debut, Ollie Sangster’s filly found just Aidan O’Brien’s exciting Fairy Godmother too good when second in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The daughter of Too Darn Hot was making her first start in the silks of new owners Al Shaqab when she returned to Ascot to shed her maiden status with an impressive display in the Princess Margaret Stakes last month.

It was a performance which convinced connections to test the water over seven furlongs, which she does on Saturday where Dylan Browne McMonagle rides for the first time.

“She took the race at Ascot really well and has come out of the race in good form,” said Sangster.

“I haven’t done loads with her since, but she seems to be in good order and this is a nice next stepping stone for her.

“She saw the stiff six (furlongs) of Ascot out well and was doing her best work at the end, so I think this step up to seven furlongs is logical and Ryan (Moore, who rode at Ascot) suggested that as well.

“It looks a nice opportunity and hopefully it will be quick ground and we’re looking forward to running her.”

Bouvier (left) pushed Dreamy close at Goodwood
Bouvier (left) pushed Dreamy close at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole’s Bouvier pushed Ballydoyle’s well-regarded Dreamy all the way when a neck second at Goodwood on her second outing and is another contender from Britain alongside Grant Tuer’s Love Talk.

However, the biggest test to Simmering could be presented by Jean-Claude Rouget’s unbeaten Fraise Des Bois having maintained her perfect record in Listed company at La Teste De Buch.

Owned by Denford Stud, she holds an entry for Newmarket’s Cheveley Park Stakes in the autumn and connections are keen to get a gauge of her level from this steep jump into Group Two company.

“She has won four out of four and is climbing the ladder slowly,” said Richard Evans of Denford Stud.

“Her last race was probably the most impressive when she won by seven lengths and she is a progressive filly now heading to a Group Two and then after that we can see about some Group One entries depending on how she does on Saturday.

“The race on Saturday will tell us really where we are, I think, and the competition is going to be a lot stiffer obviously. Ollie Sangster has his nice filly Simmering in there and the competition will be high and we will see how she does.

“If she can win or even run a good race then I would say she will probably go for a Group One in France or we have the Cheveley Park entry as well.”

Love Talk is another of British interest for trainer Grant Tuer as she tries to bounce back from a sixth-placed finish in a Listed contest at Sandown last month.

Owner Nick Bradley was successful in this race with Fev Rover in 2020 and Love Talk’s chances will be boosted with booking of 2023 winning jockey Mickael Barzalona in the saddle.

“She won on debut, went to the Star Stakes (at Sandown) and everything kind of went wrong, she got shuffled back and stuck on the outside,” Bradley said.

“She steps up in grade in terms of the name of the race, but it doesn’t look the strongest of Group Twos in my opinion.

“Simmering will be hard to beat, but I think we go there with a decent each-way chance.”



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Plans on hold for Celestial Orbit after setback

Star Stakes winner Celestial Orbit will miss her intended next start in the May Hill Stakes.

Trained by Ollie Sangster, the rapidly-improving daughter of No Nay Never took a huge step forward from her Haydock novice success to follow in the footsteps of stablemate Shuwari and scoop Listed honours at Sandown last month, winning cosily in the hands of Jamie Spencer.

Connections had intended to step up to both a mile and Group company with the youngster at Doncaster next month, but plans are currently on hold after a setback.

Sangster said: “She’s OK, but she’s had a small setback unfortunately. She was going to go to the May Hill, but she won’t make that. She might get back for the back-end of the season, but we will have to just see how the next few weeks goes.

“She’s not going to make Doncaster which was our next target, but we will just have to see how she goes over the next few weeks before making more of a plan.”

Shuwari placed in both the Rockfel Stakes and Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket last year but Celestial Orbit does not hold any entries for those races, with Sangster having zero concerns if she is unable to make it back in time to add to her impressive two-year-old portfolio.

He continued: “I would not worry if she didn’t run again. Jamie seems to think she has a very good temperament and thinks she will train on next year should that have to be what happens.

Celestial Orbit returns after winning at Sandown
Celestial Orbit returns after winning at Sandown (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“She’s a good-sized filly with plenty of scope and I think she will keep improving.

“It’s obviously frustrating to have a setback but these things happen and the owners are patient and if we can get the filly right and she can come back for a race in the autumn then fantastic, but if she doesn’t, we will look forward to next season.”

Although issuing a disappointing update on Celestial Orbit, there was positive news from Sangster about the condition of Shuwari, who is recovering well from her own setback that has kept her sidelined throughout the 2024 campaign.

Shuwari has been a flag-bearer for Ollie Sangster in the early stages of his training career
Shuwari has been a flag-bearer for Ollie Sangster in the early stages of his training career (Nigel French/PA)

Seen as a 1000 Guineas contender prior to the current season after her stellar efforts at two, she has been an early indicator to the Manton handler’s talents as a trainer.

Despite Sangster being unwilling to jinx matters and set a date for Shuwari’s on-track return, the daughter of New Bay is heading in the right direction at home.

Sangster said: “She’s doing well and she’s been back ridden exercise for a couple of weeks now. She’s moving well and looks great.

“Timescales are still to be determined and I don’t think she will make it back for the (end of the) turf (season), but we’re taking each step as it comes and she’s moving well and handling the training regime at the moment and we’re optimistic.

“We won’t be rushing at any stage and I won’t rush her for any particular race in mind. If she comes forward and gets back in time then so be it but we’re going to give her plenty of time.

“I think if I put a target there and I tried making a schedule I would end up rushing her, so I will just do right by her and give her however long she needs. If there happens to be a race in that timescale then great and if there isn’t, then so be it.”



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Monday Musings: Beaten by Sepsis

It’s funny when you speak regularly with people in racing, especially in my case primarily those I’d known in my previous incarnation, that memories come flooding back, writes Tony Stafford.

For example, before the first at Ascot on Saturday, a two-year-old contest, representing part-owner Jonathan Barnett and his Fire Flame, I stood at the end of the paddock to view it on the big screen. While there, I ran (or rather stumbled) into David Loder and John Garnsey. Many years ago, when Loder started training at Sefton Lodge in Newmarket, he had terrific success, notably with his juveniles, which were always well-schooled and ready to run.

Ricky Bowman was an “enthusiastic” work rider at a time when whip use was less frowned upon and indeed “when whips were whips”.

So, the Loder horses went into action with the equivalent of a race behind them and it was pretty easy to find winning opportunities. Many of the best prospects found their way into my Daily Telegraph tips as I was in contact with David every day.

So much so that when I bumped into legendary punter Harry Findlay at Doncaster sales maybe 15 years later, he said that when I napped one, he had his maximum on. “No commission, Harry?”

David has stopped training for some time. When he left Newmarket for the first time to look after the Sheikh Mohammed horses in Evry, France, on the site of the former racecourse, after Jeremy Noseda declined the offer, the contact finished.

Before he left, we regularly used to suggest that John Gosden didn’t seem to be doing much of a job with the Sheikh Mohammed home-breds in his yard. The first year he returned, I bumped into him as he was about to run his juvenile City On A Hill in the July Stakes. Of course it won, as did Noverre the following year.

As we were about to pass, he stopped me and said:” You know we used to laugh at John Gosden about what a crap job he did with the Sheikh Mo home-breds?” "Of course", I laughed. “Well, I’ve got them now and I think he was a f…… genius to do what he did with them!”, he said.

Now the wheel has turned full circle, David and Anthony Stroud are back buying the sales horses for Godolphin in close concert with the boss and Charlie Appleby, who was with Loder in the yard back in those Evry days.

I was chatting to Charlie a bit later along with Jono Mills, who was the young manager for the Rabbah (Godolphin-lite as I used to call them) horses at the time. Quite a few were in the revised Loder team after the Sheikh ended the Evry project and David took out a licence to train publicly from Egerton stud, next to the National Stud in the town, and the base for David Elsworth until his retirement a couple of seasons ago. Johnny Murtagh, before his Classic-winning time at Coolmore and post-John Oxx, rode the horses and unlike in David’s first go at the job, they tended to finish 2nd. Murtagh couldn’t ride a winner and Dave soon ended the experiment - Jono still remembers the frustration of it all.

Now, tall and lean and looking like some distinguished film producer, Loder can lay claim to Thursday’s wide-margin Sandown debut winner Ruling Court, a €2.3 million buy from Arqana. “Maybe he beat trees, but he looked good,” he said. A son of Justify so maybe another City Of Troy would be the hope

John Garnsey was and is an almost exact (but slightly younger) contemporary of mine, him at the Daily Express. Quiet and amusingly laconic whenever we meet, he usually says something like: “Well at least we’re still here!”

We had all agreed as the horses milled around behind the stalls that one of the runners, Letsbeatsepsis, had a most unfortunate name. Trained by Gary and Josh Moore, obviously there was a story behind it. Loder was there to watch another of his discoveries, the 1.5million gns Al Misbah, the 11/10 favourite.

A slow start didn’t help the favourite and he could only keep on for fourth, just ahead of a tubby-looking Fire Flame, with both beaten for third by Letsbeatsepsis, an 80/1 shot.

I thought I’d better investigate and indeed there is a story. I called Jayne Moore, wife of Gary, mum to joint-trainer Josh, recently-retired jump jockey Jamie and TV star Hayley. Oh, there’s also Ryan, who won that race on Richard Hannon’s Our Terms and went on to take the next, the Princess Margaret Stakes (Group 3) for Ollie Sangster.

Jayne explained that Letsbeatsepsis’ owner-breeder Patrick Moorhead had fallen ill with sepsis a few years back and hadn’t heard of it until he caught the disease. He was in ITU for months, but when he recovered, thought it would be an appropriate name to make people aware of it.

Saturday’s runner, a first foal, shows enough talent to do just that. I did some research and discovered that sepsis in the UK claims 48,000 deaths annually. The much more publicised breast cancer (11,500) and prostate cancer (12,000) claim together less than a half as many victims. To illustrate the full horror of sepsis, it is estimated that 11 million, one-fifth the world’s annual death toll, succumb to it.

Gary had only half a dozen two-two-year old wins in the past five years but now with Josh on the licence you can expect the younger end of the team to press for more flat horses and if possible of a precocious nature.

One young man on the fast track to success is Ollie Sangster, and not the least of his skill in only his second season as a trainer has been to judge the time when allowing big-name owners to buy out the existing owners.

Judging by the smiles of parents Ben and Lucy before the Princess Margaret, the price paid for the twice-raced maiden Simmering by Al Shaqab Racing was substantial enough for original partner Lucy to enjoy the day whatever happened.

Just as at Royal Ascot where Simmering flew home in the shadow of highly rated Fairy Godmother, showing similar finishing speed in the Albany Stakes to the winner, Simmering again got a fair way behind. Then Ryan, switched from her Royal meeting nemesis, found himself a fair way back but came through the middle of the field and was well on top at the finish. A 70,000gns daughter of Too Darn Hot, Simmering will have enhanced her value still further, but that sure touch Ollie showed when lining up a Group 3 to break a maiden will have impressed the international set.

Later, Ben Sangster, still with a full-on smile, was anxious not to put too much expectation on the young man’s shoulders. Ollie, obviously grandson to Robert Sangster, should according to Ben, “take small steps. The dream is still there though that one day he can move into the main yard at Manton House.”

One final point about King George day and the main event. Before the race Aidan O’Brien, having walked the course earlier, and Ryan Moore told Michael Tabor of their misgivings after 3mm of water were added overnight. Also, near the inside they had put down a fair amount of sand. Michael, realistic as ever, said: “It’s what it is!” almost resigned to another down to the 2023 Derby winner’s in-out career.

One thing I’m pretty sure of: the winner, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained gelding Goliath will have been the first winner of the race with such a pronounced case of stringhalt. As he went past us in the pre-parade, I was dying to ask him: “Can you do it as well with your right hind leg?" Bet he can’t! Decent performance though.

**

Yesterday featured the last day’s UK jump racing for around three weeks. While the top jockeys will be able to afford to go on exotic trips, their lesser-earning counterparts will be ruing the fact of reduced earning possibilities. Nicky Richards told me that he thought the stop was an opportunity missed. In Ireland they have races for jockeys that have won fewer than 20 races in the previous season and he reckons that should have been copied here.

Meanwhile, on another contentious issue, Dylan Cunha, who won a Racing League contest at Yarmouth last Thursday, goes further, believing that the top 20 trainers could be excluded to no harm for themselves, leaving the better prize money in these races to the remainder. Hughie Morrison, one of the Team Scotland trainers in the Racing League, believes that the bigger than usual for the grade money available has merely been “stolen” from the rest of the UK’s races in their respective grade. Three men with plenty to say and all with feasible opinions.

- TS



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Sangster hopes Simmering can heat up once again at Ascot

Royal Ascot runner-up Simmering returns to the Berkshire track in a bid to go one better in Saturday’s Sodexo Live! Princess Margaret Stakes.

The daughter of Too Darn Hot finished a promising third when favourite to make a winning debut at York in the spring and the form could hardly be stronger, with the winner Arabie now a dual Group-race scorer in France and the second and fourth also enjoying success since.

Simmering enhanced her own reputation by finishing second to Fairy Godmother in last month’s Albany Stakes, and the subsequent Duchess of Cambridge Stakes effort of third-placed Heavens Gate, the winner’s stablemate, paints that performance in a good light.

It is perhaps no surprise therefore that prominent owners Al Shaqab Racing have since snapped up Ollie Sangster’s filly and she will be well fancied to open her account at the third attempt at Group Three level this weekend in the hands of Ryan Moore, who takes over in the saddle from Jamie Spencer.

“She has done her final work, Jamie (Spencer) has been in recently and was very happy with her and we’re really looking forward to running her,” said Sangster.

“The form from Ascot has worked out well at Newmarket and the Karl Burke horse who beat her on debut is now a Group Two winner in France. It will be nice to get her back out.”

On the change in colours ahead of Saturday, Sangster added: “We’re very excited to have Sheikh Joaan and the Al Shaqab team in the yard and look forward to training for them. Hopefully we can have some success together.”

Oisin Murphy is looking forward to partnering the Andrew Balding-trained Handcuffed, who is a half-sister to the talented Tactical and carried the royal colours of the King and Queen to a debut victory at Newbury three weeks ago.

“She won nicely at Newbury and was still a little bit babyish and this is a step up in class, but when they win on debut with the pedigree she has, she’s entitled to step up to a Pattern race,” said the former champion jockey.

“I haven’t ridden her since Newbury, but Andrew seems very happy with her.”

Definitive also obliged on her introduction and has her sights raised by Clive Cox, who said: “She won very pleasingly at Haydock first time up and it was a very good display for a first outing.

“It’s a big step and she will come forward hugely for that first run. We liked her going into that race and she did everything really nicely.

“It was her first day away from home and we’ve been thrilled with how she has come back, hence the reason we are taking this step.”

Newmarket scorer Mandurah is a third once-raced winner in the mix for Simon and Ed Crisford, while Ralph Beckett saddles the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes sixth Tales Of The Heart.

Of Mandurah, Ed Crisford said: “She won her maiden well at Newmarket, we’ve always liked the filly and at home she looks like she’s improved enough to take her chance in a stakes race.

“It’s a competitive race and there’s some very good fillies in there, but if she improves, hopefully she’ll be in the mix.

“You’ve got to see where you stand really. It’s only her second run, but we’ve been very pleased with her since Newmarket and she’s got a nice pedigree, so we’ll let her take her chance.”



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Celestial Orbit looks out of this world in Star Stakes

Celestial Orbit gave Ollie Sangster back-to-back victories in the European Bloodstock News EBF Star Stakes with an impressive display at Sandown.

Sangster registered the biggest success of his career when currently-sidelined stable star Shuwari got the better of Fallen Angel and Soprano in this race 12 months ago and returned to repeat the feat with this smart daughter of No Nay Never.

Much improved when getting off the mark at the second attempt at Haydock earlier this month, the youngster took another step forward in this Listed contest.

Ridden with supreme confidence by Jamie Spencer, tracking the big-race favourite Flaming Stone, 9-1 chance Celestial Orbit worked her way into contention travelling smoothly as that rival began to falter before galloping on powerfully to score by two and a quarter lengths.

She was handed a quote of 33-1 for next year’s 1000 Guineas by Paddy Power but in more immediate thoughts is a step up to group company, with Goodwood’s William Hill Prestige Fillies’ Stakes an option at the end of August.

Sangster said: “I’m delighted and she’s a lovely, well-bred filly who is very straightforward to train. She’s taken a large step forward from Haydock and hopefully she can keep progressing.

Celestial Orbit returns with Jamie Spencer aboard
Celestial Orbit returns with Jamie Spencer aboard (Andrew Matthews/PA).

“Jamie gave her a lovely ride and rode her very confidently, tracking William Buick on the Juddmonte filly. He looked comfortable all the way up the straight really. She did it really well and showed a nice turn of foot to put the race to bed and hopefully there is more to come.

“I would say she would stay at seven furlongs for now. Her half-brother Nayef Road was a very good stayer – albeit by Galileo – and I suppose she will probably go up in trip at some point and maybe later in the year.

“In a month’s time, you have got a race like the Prestige at Goodwood, which is a Group Three, and then you have the May Hill at Doncaster over a mile. So, there’s some nice fillies-only options and we will keep her with the fillies and see how she can progress for the rest of the year.”

David Loughnane’s 66-1 outsider Anshoda, a 33-1 scorer at Lingfield on her debut, kept on to secure second place ahead of 6-4 market leader Flaming Stone.



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Sangster hopes for rain ahead of Celestial Orbit’s Sandown Listed bid

Ollie Sangster is keeping a close eye on conditions at Sandown as he seeks back-to-back victories in the European Bloodstock News EBF Star Stakes with Celestial Orbit.

It was in this race 12 months ago that the Manton handler registered the first significant victory of his fledgling training career with currently sidelined stable star Shuwari.

He now looks to replicate that Listed success with his smart Haydock winner, who stepped up markedly on her Kempton debut in Merseyside.

However, a sting in the tail could be drying conditions in Esher, with Celestial Orbit’s trainer keen to see the forecast rain on Thursday come to fruition.

“Jamie (Spencer) gave her a nice ride at Haydock and she seemed to take a nice bit of improvement from her debut at Kempton and she won well in the end I think,” said Sangster.

“I also had her in a Group Three in Deauville on Sunday, but she doesn’t actually want the ground too fast. We’re slightly watching the weather forecast and there’s quite a lot of rain forecast on Thursday, it’s just whether it comes in time or not.

“It looks like it will be quick in France as well, so the plan is to run on Thursday unless it’s fast ground. It looks a competitive race and we will just have to see if the rain comes in time.”

Sangster should have a good idea of his main opposition as probable race favourite Flaming Stone handed well-regarded stablemate Flight a four-length beating at Newbury earlier this month.

Trained by Andrew Balding, the daughter of Kingman impressed in that Berkshire romp and connections now feel the time is right to test the waters at a higher level.

“She won well and it might not have been the strongest contest, the Ollie Sangster horse (Flight) ran well next time when second at Newmarket, but she hit the line well, she looked good and Oisin Murphy was very complimentary of her,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“It’s the next stepping stone now into stakes company and she will hopefully go there and have a good chance. It’s a lovely time on the calendar for her to go there and try to get some black type and then there’s a whole host of lovely fillies’ Group races coming up later in the year.

“Hopefully she will be able to step up to this kind of level on Thursday and then we can keep moving up the ladder slowly.”

Murphy, who partnered Flaming Stone at Newbury, will be in opposition this time as he links up with Archie Watson’s Lingfield winner Del Ray for his bosses at Qatar Racing, while Sir Mark Prescott’s Alla Stella takes a step up in grade just nine days after opening her account at the third attempt with a comfortable win at Kempton.

The Terminus showed both class and guts following a slow start to get off the mark on debut and represents Sir Michael Stoute and King Power Racing, while Grant Tuer’s Love Talks was not disgraced when taking on the colts in France and adds depth to this competitive heat.



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Simmering targets successful return to Ascot in Princess Margaret

Simmering will return to Ascot attempting to go one better than her Albany Stakes second in the Sodexo Live! Princess Margaret Stakes on Saturday week.

Trained by Ollie Sangster and sporting his family’s famous silks, the daughter of Too Darn Hot was denied by Karl Burke’s above-average subsequent Group Two winner Arabie on debut and bumped into another high-class rival at Royal Ascot when finding just Aidan O’Brien’s Fairy Godmother too good.

The form of the Albany was given a useful boost by those just behind Simmering in Newmarket’s Duchess of Cambridge Stakes last week and although still a maiden, connections are keen to continue aiming high with their top juvenile prospect.

Simmering will now head back to Berkshire for Ascot’s six-furlong Group Three event, a race Sangster feels will lead perfectly into the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York later in the summer.

Trainer Ollie Sangster has high hopes for Simmering
Trainer Ollie Sangster has high hopes for Simmering (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I’m very happy with how she is doing, the form from the Albany is looking good and all being well she is going to go for the Princess Margaret at Ascot,” said Sangster.

“I think it will be a nice stepping stone to something like the Lowther. She has also got an entry in the Prix du Calvados over seven furlongs and I just did that in case we wanted to go up in trip. Although I think I want to go next weekend, then all being well on to the Lowther.

“There’s been no problems since Ascot and this has always been the target. I thought about the Duchess of Cambridge where the third and fourth from the Albany went, but I decided to wait.”

Sangster also has high hopes for another two-year-old filly he has stabled at his historic Manton base, Flight.

Flight (red hat) finished second to Desert Flower at Newmarket
Flight (red hat) finished second to Desert Flower at Newmarket (Nigel French/PA)

The daughter of Siyouni has bumped into taking winners in both starts so far, but having caught the eye in defeat, hopes are high she can make her mark before the season is over.

“She’s a nice filly, she’s above average and I think she is stakes class,” continued Sangster.

“It will be interesting to see what the Godolphin filly (Desert Flower) does next time and she will probably move up to a mile herself next time.

“She’s a big filly and it will be good to try to get some black type at the end of the year, but hopefully she will improve into next year as well.”



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Sangster expects Simmering to sparkle over the summer

Simmering is backed to come to the boil later in the summer having gone close to opening Ollie Sangster’s Royal Ascot account when second in the Albany Stakes.

Sangster has made a fine start to his career, training out of the historic Manton yard his family name is synonymous with, saddling Inquisitively to finish third at last year’s Royal meeting before knocking on the door once again this time around.

Although beaten on debut at York, Simmering has always been held in high regard, and with Jamie Spencer sporting the famous Sangster silks aboard the daughter of Too Darn Hot, she was sent off a 9-1 chance for the Group Three which opened Thursday’s action at Ascot.

She made stylish progress from a position towards the rear of the field and although at one stage it may have appeared a race-winning burst, she was denied by Aidan O’Brien’s Fairy Godmother who had navigated a wall of horses in the hands of Ryan Moore to strike late in the day.

“We were delighted and were hopeful going into the race, she has always worked very well and we’ve always thought highly of her,” said Sangster.

“Jamie rode her work two weeks ago and loved her. We weren’t really surprised and we just bumped into a very talented filly in Fairy Godmother.

“Take nothing away from the winner, she came from a very difficult position and won well, but she had already ran twice.

“We had only run the once and I think she is only going to keep improving – she came from quite far back herself.”

It was a performance that indicated there could be many big days ahead for Simmering and although still a maiden, Sangster is eyeing some exciting options moving forwards.

Spencer pinpointed York’s Group Two Lowther Stakes as the perfect summer target when dismounting at Ascot, while a more immediate proposition is Newmarket’s Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, a race won by Albany scorers Dandalla and Sandrine in 2020 and 2021 respectively and also captured by 2022 Albany runner-up Mawj on her next start.

Ollie Sangster has made a bright start to his training career
Ollie Sangster has made a bright start to his training career (Mike Egerton/PA)

Sangster continued: “I just want to let the dust settle but the first thing Jamie said when he hopped off her was she would be tailor-made for something like the Lowther. She travels very strongly and has a lot of speed – that was Jamie’s initial thoughts.

“I won’t be rushing her out in the next few weeks and she would have had a hard enough race at Ascot.

“The Duchess of Cambridge is a possibility, we will see how she goes over the next couple of weeks, but I will probably wait a little longer with her. It’s often a nice race and often doesn’t have a crazy big field so it is a possibility.”

It was high-class filly Shuwari who helped put Sangster on the map during his first season in the training ranks and it was somewhat fitting it was his one-time Classic hope who the trainer was attending to while discussing his latest hot prospect.

Shuwari could be back later in the year
Shuwari could be back later in the year (Nigel French/PA)

Second in both the Rockfel Stakes and Fillies’ Mile at the back-end of 2023, Shuwari missed out on her shot at 1000 Guineas glory having suffered a setback in the early stages of the season.

Connections have had to show patience in her recovery and are still optimistic the talented daughter of New Bay could return to the track later in the year.

“I’m hand-walking her right now, that’s the schedule we’re on right now and I’m walking her,” added Sangster when asked about his star filly’s progress on Sunday. “Maybe we will get her back for the autumn.”

He went on: “She’s doing really well and things are going the right way, it’s just a lengthy process. Hopefully, if things keep going well, then she might be back for an autumn campaign.”



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