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Celestial Orbit swerves Ascot and will await more rain

Celestial Orbit swerves Ascot and will await more rain

Glasgow Times4 days ago
Last year's Star Stakes scorer, who chased home Zanzoun in the Nell Gwyn on her seasonal return before running in the French 1000 Guineas, held an entry for the Longines Valiant Stakes on Saturday but will now be held back for Goodwood or Haydock in the coming weeks having not been declared.
Sangster said: 'I was thinking the ground was going to be a bit fast for her and she's a filly who wants a bit of ease in the ground. Even though we've had a lot of rain around the last week, it's still looking like it might be a bit quick for her at Ascot.
'She's a filly who has been on the back-burner a bit since France, where the ground was too fast for her after her good run before that in the Nell Gwyn. We're just biding our time and hoping she can have a productive autumn.
'I've got a few races in mind depending on when the rain comes, maybe the Oak Tree at Goodwood (July 30) or the Dick Hern over a mile at Haydock (August 9) could be nice options. Alternatively if the rain doesn't come there's no rush and there's plenty of nice races down the line.
'Her first run back will be a case of just getting her back and started really, but she's not a filly we would want to risk on fast ground.'
Haydock's Listed Dick Hern Stakes could also be on the cards for Celestial Orbit's stablemate and fellow Star Stakes scorer Shuwari, who has been absent since running in Kempton's Snowdrop Stakes earlier in the season.
'She's had a couple of small setbacks after Kempton but nothing more than that and she's a filly that also wants a bit of ease in the ground, so we've taken plenty of time with her,' added Sangster.
'I provisionally marked the Dick Hern for her at Haydock if there is some ease in the ground. She's training away nicely and hopefully can have a good second half of the season, it will be nice to get her back to the track anyway.'
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