ART CONNOISSEUR is on course for the Darley July Cup as he was said to be in fine shape following his surprise win in the Golden Jubilee Stakes on the final day of Royal Ascot on Saturday.
Michael Bell’s three-year-old colt put his injury woes behind him to land the Group One sprint, 12 months on from his Royal Ascot success in the Coventry Stakes victory 12 months ago.
Under Tom Queally Art Connoisseur, who was sent off a reasonably unfancied 20-1 chance, bounced back to form to win the six-furlong sprint ahead of several well-backed international runners including American challenger Cannonball, who was second.
Bell reported his charge to be in good shape yesterday and he will head to Newmarket on July 10 for the July Cup, for which he is now a best-priced 8-1 third favourite behind favourite and King’s Stand Stakes winner Scenic Blast.
Bell said: “He’s fine this morning. He’s going to have a canter tomorrow and hopefully the splint issue is behind him now.
“He’s not at all sore this morning and he was very impressive yesterday.
“The splint has settled in time but what I didn’t know was whether going at racing pace would affect him. It didn’t, which was good.”
Bell added: “All being well it’s the July Cup, but fast ground is the key. We will monitor the ground, that is a prerequisite for him, but that would be very much the plan. That Coventry form was rock solid so if he was back to his best, he would have a chance and unbeknown to his trainer he was.”
Third home in the Golden Jubilee, Lesson In Humility, will bypass Newmarket for the chance of Group-race glory at York in the Cuisine de France Summer Stakes on the Knavesmire on the same day at the July Cup.
Trainer Karl Burke was delighted with his filly as the four-year-old ran a big race at odds of 33-1 to finish third less than three lengths behind Art Connoisseur.
Middleham trainer Burke said yesterday: “She’s come out of the race great, looks tremendous and not a mark on her. We were obviously very pleased with the run.
“We were very hopeful she would run a big race, which was why we skipped the Wokingham to go there.
“If someone had said she would finish fifth or sixth you wouldn’t have said she had run a bad race. She excelled herself, it’s a career-best and hopefully she can go on from there.
“I think we would stick to our first plan which was to go for the Group Three fillies’ race at York in the middle of July.
“She’s not in the July Cup and I’m pretty sure we won’t supplement her. After that we’ll have a look to see if we can have a crack at another Group One over six furlongs. She’ll stay further, but I wouldn’t bring her back in trip. She stays well, she’s got a good cruising speed and she’s better on top of the ground.
“There were plenty of positives to come out of Saturday’s race.”
JJ The Jet Plane was sent off the 5-2 favourite on Saturday, but could only finish fourth.
Mike De Kock’s five-year-old is still expected to head for the July Cup, for which he is a best-priced 16-1 with Stan James, but the South African trainer thinks he might benefit from a step up in trip in future.
De Kock said: “JJ The Jet Plane ran like a horse that needs more ground (further) and he acquitted himself well.
“They didn’t go fast early, and the race turned into a dash over the last few furlongs. He was outpaced, but came back strongly to finish fourth.
“The July Cup is a stiff sprint and he will do well, but I will put my head on a block that we can win a feature race with him over ground (longer distances).
“We’re competing against the best in the world, and if you watch this race objectively you will see what a good run it was from JJ The Jet Plane.
“We’re looking forward to his future exploits.”
TODAY’S NAP: Seeking The Buck (3.45pm Lingfield).
