Bloodied by Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) at Goodwood, Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) returns unbowed to the fray on Saturday with dead aim on the G2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack S. at York.
After an emphatic 11-length success in a six-furlong Doncaster conditions event July 14, he managed to subdue all bar the granite-tough Hannon trainee in the July 28 G2 Richmond S., where the re-opposing Intelligence Cross (War Front) was three lengths away in third. John Ferguson expects him to step up from that reversal here and said, “I was delighted with the way they pulled clear of the third. I think Mehmas is a very tough 2-year-old with bags of experience. Our fellow, it was the first time he has ever been asked the question because he'd won both of his races on the bridle so easily. He just became a little bit unbalanced, coming off the bridle for the first time. I think we'll find he'll be a lot savvier this time.”
William Haggas has won three of the last 10 renewals and puts forward Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Mubtasim (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}), who looked well up to this standard when winning a novice race by 4 1/2 lengths over this trip at Haydock Aug. 4.
“It looks a very good renewal of the Gimcrack, but William is very happy with him,” the owner's racing manager Bruce Raymond commented. “We're taking him there hoping and thinking that he's going to be exceptional. He has been very impressive in his two races to date and has shown a lot of speed. We're hopeful.”
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Mokarris (More Than Ready) may have flopped when 16th of 18 in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot June 14, but he bounced back in style to capture the Listed Rose Bowl S. at Newbury July 15.
“[Trainer] Simon [Crisford] has been preparing him for this since Newbury and we're looking forward to it,” Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold said. “It's a good race–I know William Haggas is quite sweet on his horse–but I thought Mokarris was quite impressive last time. This is another step up, obviously, but we're hoping he'll run very well.”
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