Racing: Golden again for Channon

Richard Edmondson
Friday 16 April 1999 00:02 BST
Comments

THE GALLOPING seven furlongs of the Fred Darling Stakes over rolling Berkshire turf catches out a lot of fast animals who proved themselves as two-year-olds. It is a factor that John Gosden hopes will bring his duo, Capistrano Day and Choirgirl, into play in today's race, an established preparatory event for the 1,000 Guineas.

The Stanley House trainer has made a flying start to the season and anything he runs at the moment must be scrutinised. "Strangely enough they both won maidens at Redcar," the trainer said yesterday. "They've both been working satisfactorily, even though I haven't done anything too serious with them.

"I think the ratings say it all, that they have a bit to find on the top ones, but I am hopeful that they'll get seven furlongs and go on to be milers, while some of the better-rated ones might not get the trip."

Capistrano Day recorded her victory on yielding ground, while Choirgirl has shown she is better on the good to firm surface Newbury is likely to provide today. That is just one of the reasons why the latter has been afforded the favour of Frankie Dettori.

"Choirgirl was second in the Prestige [Stakes over seven furlongs at Goodwood] and then ran off with Olivier [Peslier] in the Group One [Fillies' Mile] at Ascot, and I think Frankie feels she has the experience of Group company and the other one is just a maiden winner," Gosden said.

There are, of course, others to consider. Wince has been working nicely and has filled out over the winter. The filly's trainer, Henry Cecil, has had a couple of unusually long-priced winners this week as he keeps insisting that the Warren Place horses will need a run. It is not a tactic Henry is going to be able to pull off for very much longer.

Golden Silca must also run well. She did so all over Europe last year, and gave the boys a bit of a shock when capturing the Mill Reef Stakes. It would be nice to see her help Mick Channon get over the loss of his superstar Bint Allayl.

There is, however, more than emotion to back up the chance of GOLDEN SILCA (nap 3.10). There is also that jumble of numbers and letters we call the form book. Support her for the win and support Choirgirl to be the filly flying through at the end for a place.

n Frankie Dettori goes to Hong Kong on Sunday to ride Godolphin's Limpid in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Limpid will be having his first run since leaving Andre Fabre, for whom he won the Grand Prix de Paris.

n Richard Dunwoody and Norman Williamson were yesterday handed leading chances in tomorrow's Scottish Grand National. Dunwoody will partner Scotby and Williamson Hollybank Buck in the Ayr contest, one of the few big jump races neither has won.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in