Hills ponders Haydock option ahead of Dark Islander’s Royal assignment

May 28 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

DARK ISLANDER looks unlikely to take up his engagement in the JW Lees Stakes at Haydock on Saturday as trainer John Hills look to prime his charge for next month’s Royal Ascot.

The Group Three contest over on Saturday is the feature of two more days top action which begins on Friday evening. And although Hill’s Singspiel colt is among the 24 entires for the seven-furlong contest, he may wait for his next outing have been second in Germany earlier this month.

Hills said: “He’d be an unlikely runner I’d say as it was only two weeks ago that he ran at Baden-Baden. The one thing that attracted me was the fast ground so we thought we’d have a look as he really needs it fast and the race could cut up. If it is very fast then I could change my mind but the Ballycorus in Ireland (June 11, Leopardstown) is another option.”

Dark Islander, who won the Grade Two Oak Tree Derby in America two years ago, has a couple of options at the Royal meeting next month.

Hills added: “He’s in the Wokingham and the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot.

“The latter one might be tilting at windmills a bit but a stiff six or seven furlongs is what he wants.

“I think the owner (Donald Kerr) would be keen to go to Ascot and the Wokingham might be the one.

“He’d be off a mark of 109 in that but Balthazaar’s Gift ran well (when third) in it with a big weight last year.”

As well as the JW Lees Stakes, Haydock’s six-race card on Saturday will also feature the Timeform Silver Salver, which has attracted 29 entries at the five-day declaration stage.

HAYDOCK DETAILS: Racing starts at 6.40pm on Friday and 2.10pm on Saturday. Admission costs Newton Enclosure £9; Tattersalls £17; County Enclosure £28; and PremierSuite £43. Accompanied children under 16 enter free. Senior citizens and students, with appropriate identification, enter Tattersalls and the NewtonEnclosure at half price. More details about racing at Haydock are available on web site www.haydock-park.co.uk.