Friday sees the 250th renewal of the G2 Doncaster Cup, with Mizzou (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) setting the standard on his latest second in the G1 Gold Cup.
Jon Kelly's lightly-raced 5-year-old was three-lengths second to Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Royal Ascot feature last time on June 16 and, along with his wins in the last two editions of that track's G3 Sagaro S. over two miles, should be a tough nut to crack here.
“Mizzou wouldn't have been suited by Goodwood and York was too close to Doncaster, so we decided to wait,” trainer Luca Cumani said.
“The distance and the track will suit him. He's the easiest horse on earth to train and get ready for a race. He can run well fresh, or not fresh, and we are happy with him. He's very genuine, very generous and always puts his best foot forward. He can finish his race very well and does quicken at the end of his races. He ran a very good race in the Gold Cup but unfortunately bumped into one that is a bit exceptional.”
Impressive when making all in York's G2 Lonsdale Cup over two miles last time Aug. 19, Sultan Ahmad Shah's Quest For More (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) could be a revived character with that change of tactics.
“He came out of York really well and I thought long and hard about the Melbourne Cup, which he ran pretty well in last year really, but I don't think the tempo of the race suits him,” trainer Roger Charlton explained.
Clondaw Warrior (Ire) (Overbury {Ire}) also commands respect, mixing jumping and the flat with equal prowess. Second in this last year, the Willie Mullins representative followed a win in the July 28 Galway Hurdle with a second in the GIII American St Leger over 13 1/2 furlongs at Arlington Aug. 13.
Patrick Mullins, the trainer's son and assistant, said, “We're hoping he can win to secure his place in the Melbourne Cup. I think he'll probably have to win to do that.”
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