Custom Cut Could Bid For Lockinge

The David O’Meara-trained Custom Cut (Ire) (Notnowcato {GB}), winner of five stakes last year including the G2 Joel S. at Newmarket, could bid for his first Group 1 in the May 16 Lockinge S. at Newbury. The gelding finished eighth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Newmarket to wrap up his season last year, and got his 6-year-old campaign off on a winning note in the G2 bet365 Mile at Sandown Apr. 24. 

“Custom Cut has been left in the Al Shaqab Lockinge S., but nothing has been decided yet,” O’Meara confirmed. “He could go there or to France for the [G1] Prix d’Ispahan [at Longchamp May 24]. He has come out of Sandown really well. It was a great performance and it looks like he has resumed in good form.” 

O’Meara added, “He still has to prove he is up to Group 1 standard. He was well-beaten at Ascot but I don’t think that was his true running. He was drawn badly and it was at the end of a long season. It was well below the standards of his Group 2 wins.” 

Custom Cut could face last year’s G1 2000 Guineas hero Night of Thunder (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and 2013 champion 2-year-old Toormore (Ire) (Arakan), who were confirmed last week by trainer Richard Hannon. Also holding entries are last year’s G1 French 2000 Guineas and GI Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein) and dual Group 1-winning fillies Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}).