ROD COLLET is hoping Sahpresa can show similar winning form on the July course at Newmarket as she did on the Rowley Mile to the July course when she returns to Newmarket for the Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes tomorrow.
The six-year-old mare has won the last two runnings of the Group One Sun Chariot Stakes at Headquarters. But now she will bid to score another success on Newmarket’s summer course.
Sahpresa won on his latest start when beating the highly-regarded Midnight Cloud in the Group Three at Longchamp last month.
Collet said: “She looks good and everything is well. She knows the other track at Newmarket.
“It is an open race, but she has arrived there in good shape.
“I was really pleased with her run at Longchamp.”
In contrast, the John Gosden-trained Maqaasid tries her luck back in England after being badly drawn in the French 1000 Guineas and then missing the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot due to rain-softened ground.
“She had a bad draw in France so we knew it would be difficult and she didn’t have a tough time really,” said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
“She seems to have held her condition well and is in good form at home. John is very happy with her.
“We didn’t want to run at Ascot as the ground wouldn’t have been ideal so I suppose there could still be some question marks over the trip.”
Antara returned from an eight-month break to win the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom for the second year running last month.
Her trainer Saeed bin Suroor is hoping Godolphin’s five-year-old mare can open her account at the highest level.
“Antara won well at Epsom last time, she came back well and is in good form.
“It’s a tough race but she has class – she was placed in a Group One last year – and we’re happy.”
In opposition Richard Hannon is hoping a return to Newmarket can bring out a return to form for Memory.
She landed the Cherry Hinton Stakes at this meeting in 2010, but things haven’t gone to plan since.
And Hannon said: “None of us will ever forget the way in which Memory won the Cherry Hinton on this day last year, and it would be wonderful if Harry Herbert and his Highclere team were celebrating in similar style after she has run in the Falmouth.
“However, Memory was 5-4 last year and she is only fifth favourite here against some talented older fillies.
“The Guineas was obviously a disaster, but she behaved much better in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and, though it would have been lovely to have won, she looked to enjoy herself again and the confidence came flooding back.
“Memory has been working well at Everleigh, and hopefully, we can get back on the right track.”
NEWMARKET (DAY TWO) PREDICTIONS: 1.20pm Instance, 1.50pm Desert Law (NAP), 2.25pm Shumoos, 3pm Sahpresa, 3.35pm Right Regal, 4.05pm Royal Peculiar, 5.20pm Arabian Spirit.
CHESTER: 6.10pm Kingswinford, 6.40pm Nufoudh, 7.10pm Marine Commando, 7.45pm Luv U Forever, 8.15pm Arabian Star, 8.50pm Silvas Romana, 9.20pm Amana.
