Days after the sad news broke of the passing of one of British racing's great personalities Joe Mercer, Sandown pay an apt tribute marking his legacy on the country's most prestigious evening meeting of the year.
Thursday's action centres around the 10-furlong G3 Coral Brigadier Gerard S. named for his remarkable mount of the 1970s, who he steered to victory in 17 of his 18 starts and who before Frankel emerged was considered the most formidable of all horses to have emanated from these shores. The 2021 Brigadier Gerard “In Memory of Joe Mercer” takes on a familiar slant, with the 11-times-winning Sir Michael Stoute represented by the likely warm favourite Sangarius (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Successful in Royal Ascot's G3 Hampton Court S. in 2019, the Juddmonte homebred TDN Rising Star looked to have the world at his feet then but has only been seen on three subsequent occasions and was a well-beaten second in the May 7 G2 Huxley S. at Chester.
Teddy Grimthorpe is in the last days of his tenure as racing manager to the operation and he is hoping for a few more highlights before he makes way in his position. “He comes into the race in good form and has been straightforward since Chester,” he said. “He has been fine after that race and we just hope this is a good race for him to realise what good potential he has. He should be able to handle the ground unless they get a sudden deluge and we get an extreme of going, when it turns into specialist ground. He handled Chester pretty well and hopefully he will meet the rising ground here well in what looks a competitive race. Sir Michael likes to win this race and we have been pleased with him.”
Hollie Doyle rides Imad Al Sagar's G3 Rose of Lancaster S. and G3 Winter Hill S. winner Extra Elusive (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and she said, “He will like the ground and I'd like to think he will be there or thereabouts. He is pretty solid at this level.”
Also on the card is the G3 Henry II S. for the stayers over two miles, where the Apr. 28 G3 Sagaro S. second and third Ocean Wind (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Nayef Road (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) renew rivalry and the former's trainer Roger Teal may have found an ideal spot for his progressive 5-year-old. “He looks so well at the moment and he is bucking and kicking at home, so we thought we would have a go,” he said. “He ran an absolute cracker behind Stradivarius and he does deserve to get his head in front.”
Speed is the watchword as the juveniles get their chance to shine in the Listed National S. over five furlongs, where Fiona Carmichael and Evelyn Yates's impressive May 5 Lily Agnes Conditions S. winner Navello (GB) (Ivawood {Ire}) is taken on by the unbeaten Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Apr. 28 Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial Conditions S. scorer Chipotle (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}).
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