Top
ONE of racing’s busiest weeks will see Trillium Place double-handed in the John Smith’s Cup at York – and also represented in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.
York stages the 58th renewal of the John Smith’s Cup, the famous mile and a quarter handicap, worth no less than £200,000 on Saturday.
Trainer David Simcock will send north both Majeed and Dragon Mall. The pair also ran in the Wolferton (Listed) handicap at Royal Ascot on June 24 with Majeed going down by only a diminishing neck.
Dragon Mall fluffed his lines badly as the gates opened but ended up being beaten by only just over three lengths.
David said: “The John Smith’s Cup is a lovely race for these older exposed horses. Both Majeed and Dragon Mall could have a good each-way chance.
“Majeed was arguably unlucky in the Wolferton. He seems in good order and York is a track that should suit him.
“Dragon Mall is mercurial. He is a talented horse who did remarkably well to be beaten just over three lengths at Ascot considering how he raced early on. If the real Dragon Mall turns up on the day he’d be very competitive.”
Newmarket’s three-day July Festival gets underway tomorrow and Algometer will tackle six rivals in the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes.
The four-year-old fared well on his seasonal bow, finishing second in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in late May.
David assessed: “I was delighted with Algometer’s run in the Brigadier Gerard. He comes into the race in seemingly good order and he’ll appreciate the bit of rain we got. But Frontiersman is going to be a very hard horse to beat.”
Saturday’s Group 1 Darley July Cup will see Glass Office in action. He returned from a lengthy lay-off to finish fourth in Listed company last month.
David said: “The July Cup looks a really good race this year – a tough race. Glass Office will be up against it.”