logo
Weather might prove key to Diligent Harry's bid for third time lucky

Weather might prove key to Diligent Harry's bid for third time lucky

The seven-year-old, who has twice been runner-up in the Group Three, was most recently seen winning the Chipchase Stakes at the same level on Newcastle's all-weather track.
He is a eight-time winner on synthetic surfaces but despite placed runs at the highest level on turf, he is yet to get his head in front in 16 starts over both five and six furlongs.
Should the weather allow he will aim to put that right on Saturday, where success would be well deserved for a horse that is clearly a popular campaigner.
'Diligent Harry is entered at the weekend, we're on a bit of a watching brief with the weather so we'll have to see what the ground is like,' said Cox,
'I'm very pleased with him, his win at Newcastle was very special.
'He is yet to perform quite to the same level on turf, though he is Group One and Group Two-placed.
'He's certainly as good as ever in his seventh year, he's a real yard favourite and one of those horses you become really close to.'
He added: 'I would say he'll be on his travels later in the year, he just took a bit of time to come into himself this spring for whatever reason, but he's really showing he's in a good place at the moment and we've got unfinished business here first.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Crystal aiming to sparkle with Ballyroan repeat
Crystal aiming to sparkle with Ballyroan repeat

Powys County Times

time16 hours ago

  • Powys County Times

Crystal aiming to sparkle with Ballyroan repeat

Gerard Keane hopes a successful defence of the Tote Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday can open further doors for Crystal Black. The seven-year-old was unbeaten in all four starts last year, which saw the son of Teofilo triumph in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot before impressively landing this race by five lengths for his maiden Pattern win. Crystal Black made a return to action in the Alleged Stakes in April, finishing seven lengths adrift of Galen in fourth to end his winning streak. He subsequently underwent a wind procedure and Keane is looking forward to his stable star kick-starting his 2025 campaign, as he lines up a tilt at the final Irish Classic of season next month. 'He's coming along, he had a little bit of a hobday,' Keane said. 'So he's coming along well, we are happy with his work and as good as we can have him without a run. He's probably 90 per cent so it's a nice little race to start him back with. As long as he runs a nice race, we'll be happy. 'He's got an entry in the (Irish) Leger, so that is the plan if we think he is good enough to run in that, but that's in a month's time. 'That's the plan – Ballyroan, the Leger – and then after that we will see what's happening then.' Six-time Irish champion jockey Colin Keane is aboard for his father in the Group Three contest over a mile and a half. Sons And Lovers goes for Joseph O'Brien, the Noel Meade-trained Group-winning Layfayette also starts and Jessica Harrington has entered Sea The Boss. Johnny Murtagh's Siege Of Troy and This Songisforyou, trained by Emmet Mullins, complete the six-runner line-up.

Crystal aiming to sparkle with Ballyroan repeat
Crystal aiming to sparkle with Ballyroan repeat

Glasgow Times

time17 hours ago

  • Glasgow Times

Crystal aiming to sparkle with Ballyroan repeat

The seven-year-old was unbeaten in all four starts last year, which saw the son of Teofilo triumph in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot before impressively landing this race by five lengths for his maiden Pattern win. Crystal Black made a return to action in the Alleged Stakes in April, finishing seven lengths adrift of Galen in fourth to end his winning streak. He subsequently underwent a wind procedure and Keane is looking forward to his stable star kick-starting his 2025 campaign, as he lines up a tilt at the final Irish Classic of season next month. 'He's coming along, he had a little bit of a hobday,' Keane said. 'So he's coming along well, we are happy with his work and as good as we can have him without a run. He's probably 90 per cent so it's a nice little race to start him back with. As long as he runs a nice race, we'll be happy. 'He's got an entry in the (Irish) Leger, so that is the plan if we think he is good enough to run in that, but that's in a month's time. 'That's the plan – Ballyroan, the Leger – and then after that we will see what's happening then.' Six-time Irish champion jockey Colin Keane is aboard for his father in the Group Three contest over a mile and a half. Sons And Lovers goes for Joseph O'Brien, the Noel Meade-trained Group-winning Layfayette also starts and Jessica Harrington has entered Sea The Boss. Johnny Murtagh's Siege Of Troy and This Songisforyou, trained by Emmet Mullins, complete the six-runner line-up.

Golden Eagle swoop in the pipeline for globetrotting Luther
Golden Eagle swoop in the pipeline for globetrotting Luther

Rhyl Journal

time17 hours ago

  • Rhyl Journal

Golden Eagle swoop in the pipeline for globetrotting Luther

The three-year-old Frankel colt celebrated victory, albeit through the stewards' room, in the Grade Two National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga in America on Friday, which came just four weeks after taking place honours in the Belmont Derby at the same venue. Now, the Bedford House handler is seeking to emulate the success of the William Haggas-trained Lake Forest at Rosehill in Australia, following a stint back at home and a potential run in the Group Two Park Stakes at Doncaster on St Leger day. 'He couldn't have taken it any better,' Fellowes said on Wednesday. 'He's on his way home and will be back tonight. Really proud of him. 'He ran third in a Grade One over there and the form's worked out really well. The first and second in the Belmont Derby were first and third in the Saratoga Derby, so that form looks strong and he beat some good European horses in the process. 'Then we went and won, slightly controversially, but I think anyone watching that race saw how messy it was and I think if we had a relatively smooth trip it would have been a really, really good race between us and probably the best turf three-year-old horse in America (Zulu Kingdom). 'He's coming home, but at the moment, the potential plan is to head to the Golden Eagle down in Sydney. It's a A$10million (£4.89m) race, seven and a half furlongs, he has so much speed, I've got no problem with the seven and a half with him. 'His part-owner lives in Singapore so that makes sense, so that's very much our end-of-season target. He's probably done enough now to get a slot in that race. 'Whether he has a run here before then as a little prep run, not quite sure yet. I put him in the Park Stakes at Doncaster, so that could be a goer.' Shes Perfect is another leading light in the Fellowes yard. However, the Sioux Nation filly – who unfortunately for her connections suffered contrasting fortunes in the stewards' room when relegated from first place in the French 1,000 Guineas – will not be seen again until next year. Fellowes said: 'She's absolutely good as gold, but she's finished for the year. 'She's sound, which is the most important thing, but X-rays we took last week showed a definite small weakness in her right-hind fetlock which just needs a little bit of time to heal and the vets were concerned that if we pressed on, something a bit more significant could happen. 'It sounds very positive, it just needs time and they are very positive that she'll be back next season where hopefully she can bag the Group One that she so deserves. 'It was just too risky. She's had a long season anyway, she would probably have only had two more races I'd have thought. 'We've not missed out on loads, I'm gutted that we are not running in a Foret because that race would have absolutely suited her, but maybe that will wait until next year. 'She's a lovely big filly, she's only going to improve with age so next year should be great for her.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store