By Brian Sheerin
Connections of G1 Commonwealth Cup scorer Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) are favouring a tilt at the G1 July Cup over travelling to France for the G1 Prix Jean Prat, provided the ground is suitable at Newmarket.
Although Perfect Power produced a scintillating performance to win the Commonwealth Cup on ground described as good-to-firm, connections of the Richard Fahey-trained speedster are adamant that the three-time Group 1 scorer wants easier going.
Perfect Power is reported to have bounced out of his Royal Ascot win in tremendous form by Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, who revealed the July Cup is the preferred target over a trip to Deauvillle this weekend.
Raymond told TDN Europe, “We want to go to the July Cup but a decision will be made after the horse works tomorrow [Tuesday] morning. We know he's going to work well, and while we want to run him in the July Cup, we're just a little bit worried about the ground and how much water they're going to put on it before Saturday.”
He added, “Hopefully they will put lots on it because it's going to be quite warm this week and there doesn't appear to be any rain forecast. We'd prefer to go to Newmarket because the Prix Jean Prat is over seven furlongs. He actually came out of Ascot better than he did the 2,000 Guineas, which is a good sign. He's in very good form.
“He's favourite for the July Cup and, while I presume he'd be favourite for the Prix Jean Prat, we'd rather run him over six furlongs in the July Cup. We're all hoping he runs at Newmarket but, if it comes up like the road, then we could face a difficult decision.”
One horse who definitely won't be lining out at Newmarket this week is the exciting Clearpoint (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), also owned by Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, who had been as short as 7-2 with some bookmakers for the G2 July S. on Thursday.
Like Perfect Power, Clearpoint is trained by Fahey but a dirty scope means that the promising colt will not put his unbeaten record on the line at Newmarket this week.
Raymond said, “Clearpoint scoped dirty and definitely won't run in the July S. We could look at the Richmond S. as an alternative.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
