Tag Archive for: Zanthos

Leicester and Doncaster options under consideration for Zanthos

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Connections are considering the options with the exciting Zanthos after the prospect of soft ground scuppered a tilt at the Solario Stakes.

The €1million breeze-up buy lit up the July course with a dazzling display on debut, with trainers Simon and Ed Crisford open to taking on the colts in the Sandown Group Three.

However, put off by forecast rain and keen to ensure the daughter of Sioux Nation banks further experience on a sound surface, they will now consider a new route to high-ranking events at the end of the season.

Zanthos holds an entry for both the Rockfel Stakes (September 26) and Fillies’ Mile (October 10) on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, with the youngster’s team now weighing up a Leicester novice event on September 9 or Doncaster’s Betfred May Hill Stakes two days later as potential stepping stones.

Chris Wall, racing manager for owners Victorious Forever, said: “The plan was to run in the Solario, but we ducked out of that with the forecast and possibility of soft ground which it looked like being.

“The target is the Rockfel and it’s just how we get there as we feel she needs to have another run for experience and it’s then a question of where we do that.

“We could go for the May Hill over a mile which I suppose if she ran well in that, we could then bin the Rockfel idea and head straight to the Fillies’ Mile. Or there is also a fillies’ novice race at Leicester the same week.

“As much as anything, and obviously her well-being at the time is also paramount, but wherever she goes could be dictated a little bit by the ground as she’s a good-actioned filly. I’m not saying she won’t cope with slowish ground but she wouldn’t want very soft ground.

“We’re all looking forward to her next run and it’s disappointing we couldn’t go to the Solario as it would have let us know where we stood and we could confidently make plans for the autumn, but we can’t help the weather and we take that on the chin and move on.”

Publish in line for what could prove highly-informative Solario Stakes

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Publish is on course to return to the familiar territory of Sandown after he stood out among a stellar set of names entered for the BetMGM Solario Stakes on Saturday.

The son of Kingman was edged out on debut at the Esher track in July, but soon set the second straight when impressing back at Sandown later that month and heads into this Group Three event with his star firmly on the rise.

John and Thady Gosden’s colt is already as short as 10-1 in places for next year’s 2000 Guineas and could now follow in the footsteps of both his father and Clarehaven stablemate Field Of Gold by claiming the Solario.

Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte, said: “This was the initial plan and hopefully that remains the same so we will look forward to seeing him again.

“He’s a beautiful horse, a very big horse and he’s probably more of a three-year-old type. John and Thady have both said he’s not a horse to over-race this year, he’s all about next year.

“He could be exciting, I know he has only won a maiden but we’re hopeful he is able to make the jump into the next grade.”

It was one of Charlie Appleby’s string that denied Publish on debut and the Moulton Paddocks handler could unleash stylish Newmarket novice winner Pacific Avenue in a race he won with subsequent Derby hero Masar in 2017).

Other notables in the 11-strong possibles list include Andrew Balding’s Chesham winner Humidity and the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Zanthos.

The latter, a daughter of Sioux Nation, cost €1million at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year and it was easy to see why as she scorched to a three-length victory in her July course debut.

She could now be a rare filly to take on the colts in this race, as her team search for the right opportunity to set up high-ranking events later in the season.

“She’s super well and we still haven’t quite figured out what we’re doing with her yet,” said Ed Crisford.

“The fillies’ races at the Curragh (Debutante Stakes) and Goodwood (Prestige Stakes) came a bit quick for her and it would have been bringing her back just two weeks later.

“We’re happy to enter in the Solario against the colts and then see what we think and there’s also novice options.

“We want to run her again before the Rockfel if we can and we just need to take it step by step.”