Tag Archive for: Song Of The Clyde

Clive Cox planning attack on big juvenile prizes with star pair

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Clive Cox is keen to see if star juveniles A Bit Of Spirit and Coppull can bag more big-race success in the two-year-old division in the final third of the season.

A Bit Of Spirit returned to winning ways with a battling display at Sandown to come out on top in a four-way finish to the Solario Stakes and with the Lambourn handler still very much on a high from that Group Three triumph, the next step of the youngster’s career could involve a move up to Group One company.

“He’s come out of the race really well and we were delighted with the determination and courage he showed, it was a really pleasing success,” said Cox.

“We’ve got to decide where we’re going next now, but he’s shown he doesn’t mind a bit of ease in the ground.

A Bit Of Spirit (second left) winning at Sandown
A Bit Of Spirit (second left) winning at Sandown (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in France and in the Dewhurst, but we’ll allow him this week and then move forward accordingly.

“We’ve got choices and they’re all available. We’ve had such a dry summer and with the weather just beginning to take a turn, we might just watch and feel how everything pans out.

“We’re all still very much on a high from the success at the weekend.”

While A Bit Of Spirit’s next target is still to be determined, it appears Richmond Stakes scorer Coppull will bid to get back on track in Newmarket’s Middle Park Stakes later this month after finishing fifth in a red-hot Prix Morny when last seen.

“The idea would be to head to the Middle Park,” continued Cox. “He’s less proven on an easier surface and since coming home from France we’ve been a bit gentler with him but I’m sure we can resume a positive approach with him soon and look forward to the Middle Park as our next intended target.”

Coppull (right) winning the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood
Coppull (right) winning the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

He went on: “It was very very quick ground over there in Deauville. We were drawn on a wing with the American horse (Outfielder) on the other side. We were thinking he would go and make the running and we were caught a little bit wide and he was a bit too keen and to be fair, the ground was quick enough for him.”

Cox will also go in search of further two-year-old riches with Song Of The Clyde who will now take a well-known path to Doncaster’s Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes on September 11 after already picking up one huge bounty with victory at York last month.

The Middleham Park Racing-owned son of Sergei Prokofiev cashed in over £300,000 in prize-money when giving the Beechdown Stables handler a third-straight win in the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs sales race.

“I think he’s well enough qualified for the Weatherbys race at Doncaster and it’s six and a half, which I think will be within his compass,” said Cox.

“That will be our intended route and would mirror the same step we took with Dragon Leader who won the same race at York in 2023 before running very well (to finish second) in the Doncaster race.”

Song Of The Clyde in tune for another big sales race win for Clive Cox

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Clive Cox ruled the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs at York once again as Song Of The Clyde came out on top.

The Middleham Park Racing-owned colt was ridden by Rossa Ryan and settled into a position at the fore of the 21-strong field in the early stages as a 15-2 shot.

As the race progressed he did not falter, putting his head down to lengthen towards the line and give his stable a third successive win in the richly-endowed sales race.

Cox said: “That was wonderful, what are the odds of winning it three times in a row with 400 horses in the sale each time?

“It’s such a good incentive this race and Harry Beeby was a good friend of mine, but the whole concept of such good prize-money is what is energising it and it’s amazing to get it right with this fella.

“We liked him, he grew an awful lot and had a bit of size and scope as a yearling, but he’s got such a wonderful mind as well and when he won at Chester I was really pleased as he jumped up two gears.

“He ran really well with a penalty at Newbury, the drier ground helped him here and he’s really going forwards in the right direction.”

The trainer’s 2023 winner, Dragon Leader, went on to finish second in the similarly valuable Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes at Doncaster the following month.

When asked if Song Of The Clyde could follow the same path, Cox added: “He could well do. We’ll see how he comes back, but those sort of prizes are available and he’s well qualified, so I would say that would be a possible target.

“I think he could be a horse that can look forward to a bright future from here – he’s not just about the sales races. We’ve been able to get him here good and sharp and ready to go, but I undoubtedly see him going on as a three-year-old. He’s got size and scope and a wonderful mind.”

Boston Dan filled the runner-up spot, beaten three-quarters of a length, and his trainer Richard Fahey said: “He ran a blinder, we were delighted with him.

“I thought two down we were going to win but obviously the winner just picked up and kept going.

“It was a good result, a great result for the owners. He’s in the sales race at Doncaster and all the others so we’ll see where he ends up.”