Flowerhead not certain to take Duchess of Cambridge chance
Clover wants to give her the best chance of winning at Group level as he decides between the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket on Friday or the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot later in the month.
Clover said: 'She's in great order. Whether she runs or not (in the Duchess of Cambridge) we'll wait and see, there's still the Princess Margaret to consider and there's no guarantee we'll run her.
'She's in a good spot but we just want to try to put her in the weakest race possible to try to enhance her chances of winning. We'll have a look at the declarations and if it's the right spot we'll go there and if not we'll hold off and go back to Ascot.
'I think the step up to six will suit her and she's in great nick.
'She deserves the chance to run but at the same time I'm conscious there might be a weaker spot coming up in the Princess Margaret.
'I don't think it was a bad Queen Mary by any stretch of the imagination and Staya looked a nice horse winning that Listed race at Sandown. We'll see some nice horses come out of the Queen Mary.
'The ground's not an issue, she's won on good to soft, second at Ascot on good to firm. Good ground is her preference but we're not really scared of ground. She's pretty versatile.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
8 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Goodwood and Deauville under consideration for My Cloud
The four-year-old was the winner of the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot in June, prevailing by three-quarters of a length in a field of 30 to remain unbeaten this season. He was due to return to the same track to step into Group company earlier this month, but an unsatisfactory scope put paid to that plan and he was withdrawn. Alternative aims are now likely to be at the latter end of next month, with races both in England and across the Channel in France pencilled in. 'We had to take him out of the Summer Mile because he scoped dirty and he's had treatment for that,' said Chris Wall, racing manager to owners KHK Racing. 'He's still not quite ready to race yet, we had hoped he'd be ready to run in a Listed race at Pontefract this weekend, but that's not going to be the case. 'We're looking at races at the end of August, we've got in mind the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and the Prix Quincey at Deauville at about the same time. 'We hope he'll be ready for one of those and then we'll take it from there.'
Daily Mirror
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
TV legend who famously beat King Charles in charity race ends 60-year career on Tuesday
Derek 'Tommo' Thompson, 74, who famously beat King Charles III in a charity race will commentate on his last race at Wolverhampton on Tuesday night Legendary TV commentator Derek Thompson brings down the curtain on his 60 year career when he calls his final race at Wolverhampton on Tuesday. One of the most recognisable figures in horse racing has been a regular on-course and for BBC radio, while also presenting for ITV, Channel 4, At The Races and Sky Sports Racing during a nearly 60-year broadcasting career. The 74-year-old was even part of a three-strong group that attempted to negotiate the release of Shergar after the 1981 Derby winner was kidnapped. He also enjoyed time in the spotlight when what became his famous catchphrase, 'Are you well? I thought you were', appeared on Radio One courtesy of Greg James before going viral, as did an At The Races clip of him when he mistook a man for a woman during an exchange on Sky. Thompson said: 'I'll be brutally honest, it's not going to be easy because I still love it to this day and I'm so proud that I'm one of about 20 people that do the race calling in the UK. 'I've been doing it for so many years that it's time to move on. It's not getting any easier, but I still love it. I've been very lucky, I'm paid to go to the races. Other people have to pay to get in. I've got the best seat in the house.' Thompson announced he would be retiring from the commentators' booth last year. He continued: 'I'm absolutely stunned by the amount of people that have come up – and that's not just older people like me, but younger people as well – and said can I have a selfie, can I have your autograph. It's just lovely. 'The messages I've been getting on social media, thank you so much, it's lovely, it almost brought a tear to my eye. It's very moving and it makes me feel very proud.' While Thompson will be putting down his binoculars, he certainly does not plan to be a stranger to the racecourse and hopes to take his affable style around the country. Thompson said: 'I'll still be presenting at the racetracks around the country and hoping to organise a little tour called, 'Are you well? I thought you were', or 'It's a man actually, Derek', so we're hoping to continue the fun side of racing because I'm a great believer in enjoying racing. Thompson also famously once raced against the then future King in a charity event and remembers the race fondly. He said: 'I beat him, Prince Charles as he was then. I rode a horse for Nicky Henderson called Classified and I beat him at Plumpton. 'There were about 12 runners, it was a two-mile Flat race and it was incredible. We occasionally have a chat at the races, Royal Ascot and stuff and we get together sometimes. 'I always say, 'Sir, I'm sorry I beat you all those years ago and he says 'don't worry, I forgave you', but the (late) Queen goes, 'but I haven't, Tommo'. It was incredible.'
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Jan Brueghel spearheads stellar list of King George contenders
Aidan O'Brien said at the weekend it was probable that Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel would be his number one hope, with Lambourn likely to be aimed at the St Leger, possibly via the Great Voltigeur at York. O'Brien's Epsom Oaks runner-up Whirl, who has been mentioned in terms of the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, has stood her ground, while the Ballydoyle handler is also responsible for Continuous. Like last year's winner Goliath, Calandagan is trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and pushed Jan Brueghel all the way at Epsom. The Aga Khan Studs-owned gelding has since bagged an elusive Group One victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. The Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel's Romance, meanwhile, showed he is as good as ever in recording a popular triumph in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Andrew Balding's Group One winner Kalpana is another representative for the fillies, with Jessica Harrington's Green Impact bolstering the Irish challenge. Kalpana will be stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time this season, at the scene of her biggest success to date, the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes back in October. Her two outings this season have been in Ireland, finishing third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and second in the Pretty Polly Stakes, both at the Curragh. Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon said: 'Kalpana is all systems go for the King George. This has been her intended target since her last run in Ireland and she is in good shape. 'I think her two runs this year have been very solid. We know she is proven over a mile and a half on soft ground, so for her to produce those performances over 10 furlongs on quicker ground is very promising. 'We would be hopeful of a strong showing on Saturday back over 12 furlongs, for all it looks a competitive race. Calandagan is a top-class horse and we all saw what Jan Brueghel did at Epsom. I don't know if Lambourn will line up as well, but a Derby winner always commands respect.'
