Leading The Chase

Friday’s G3 Gordon Richards S. at Sandown has been a firm favorite of Sir Michael Stoute since the early part of his career, and his record-setting seven successes have included the likes of Singspiel (Ire). Whether Saeed Suhail’s progressiveCannock Chase (Lemon Drop Kid) can measure up to that kind of standard remains to be seen, but he looked a typical Freemason Lodge rank-riser when winning the G3 Tercentenary S. over this trip at Royal Ascot when last seen. 

“He didn’t run after Royal Ascot, as he had a few minor problems but Sir Michael Stoute just tidied them up before pressing on with him,” the owner’s racing manager Bruce Raymond told PA Sport. “If he had been with any other trainer they would have probably pressed on with him before now, but Sir Michael felt he would be better as a 4-year old. He has filled out and grown well over the off-season and I think potentially he is a very good horse. I don’t think the quick ground would be an issue for him, as Sir Michael wouldn’t be running him if he thought it was a problem.” 

Third behind Cannock Chase at the Royal meeting was Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is another representing one of Newmarket’s longstanding premier trainers in Luca Cumani. Upping his game subsequently when conquering York’s G2 Great Voltigeur S. over a mile and a half in August, the bay reverts to this intermediate trip to kick off what promises to be a profitable campaign. John Gosden is hoping for rain for the talented and recently-gelded Western Hymn (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who showed his liking for a testing surface when scoring in the G3 Classic Trial on this card 12 months ago and also in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam in July. 

“Western Hymn is in good order and we are very happy with him,” Gosden told PA Sport. “This race has been the plan since his last run. We would appreciate a bit of rain, but I don’t think we are going to get it.”