Shaquille travel to Newmarket with all guns blazing as he bids to shoot down his opponents in the July Cup (G1) and claim for himself a new sprint sensation.
Julie Camacho’s 3-year-old put on a spectacular performance from start to finish at Royal Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) on his most recent outing after playing at the wrong start.
How he recovers from a possible disaster when it takes a long time as stalls open to hunt for favorites 10-11 Little Bear and beat him a long way and a quarter strongly recommended son of spiritual charm can prove an excellent speedster.
Three July Cup winners have graduated from the Commonwealth Cup, namely Muhaarar , harry angel And Ten Sovereigns but Royal Ascot’s team 1 is also responsible for the five recently beaten favorites—four have won on royal health (Caravaggio , Advertisement , Golden Dragon And perfect power ) and one was second (dragon icon ).
Steve Brown, Camacho’s assistant, is excited about what lies ahead for Shaquille. He said: “We are very pleased with his preparation for the July Cup and he goes there in very good form.
“Shaquille is the least exposed athlete in the field. He’s made great progress and I believe he can improve even more.”
Shaquille is yet to hit the bends of the July race but handled Rowley Mile with confidence when he won the 0-100 handicap in May with a score of 96. He is currently ranked 117th and most popular. for one of the biggest sprints in the world. is a reflection of how far he has come in such a short amount of time.
“It’s a different challenge,” Brown said. “We don’t know how he will handle the track until he tries, but he is a very balanced horse and will be fine.
“The ground will be interesting. If they get the end of the rain as forecast it’s fine. If they get the end of the top it will suit two or three other people who like a little bit of it. under foot.”
Brown believes Shaquille’s slow start at Ascot was just a hit. “We haven’t done anything with him at the stalls since then,” he said. “I hope that’s the exception, not the rule. He’s in great form.”
The more rain the better for Azure Blue
Michael Dods is one of the coaches hoping that rain will continue to fall in Newmarket.
His rapidly progressing 4-year-old boy Blue subjugator Highland princess in the last 1895 Duke of York Stakes (G2), whose winning form on the ground was officially described as good to solid, but the Dods felt she was easily more efficient.
The winner of her last four races — the first to hit the official mark of 89 — Azure Blue is now ranked 114th following that breakthrough in the team company on Knavesmire.
“It’s been a huge step up in the class for her from group 2 to group 1,” said Dods. “She’s been in good form and any rain will help, but I totally understand that she is. need to step up again.”
Dods has proven time and time again that he has Midas in touch with slow-moving sprinters who suddenly progress beyond all recognition and Azure Blue is the latest example.
“It was fun to run with the group 1 horses,” he said. “Azure Blue is still making progress and there’s nothing to worry about on the track—she’s won both courses at Newmarket.
“She has a bit to find, and is more likely to do so if there is some juice in the ground.”
Little Big Bear is back on track after failure
Bettors supporting Little Big Bear to turn Ascot form with Shaquille do so with the full knowledge that he has missed the last six days of work with a bruised foot.
Little Big Bear only got a 50/50 rating to make it into the group 1 squad at the start of the week, but his affairs have improved dramatically and it will be interesting to see how the market rates him. on the big day.
Coach Aidan O’Brien said: “We won’t really know how he’s been affected (by defeat) until he runs. We have to be happy enough for him to take the chance. his guild first and then we won’t know until he runs.”
Little Big Bear and jockey Wayne Lordan
Little Big Bear, who finished limping on his right hind leg after not running behind Chaldean in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) in May, recovered three weeks later when he returned to sprinting with a comfortable landing of Sandy Lane Stakes (G2) at Haydock.
There seemed to be no reason for Little Big Bear to reverse Ascot’s form with Shaquille — even with a hassle-free preparation — but O’Brien has been adamant ever since that the Cup requirements July will suit No Now Never ideal colt.
He said: “We were really looking forward to going to Newmarket with him after Ascot and it’s a shame for what happened because we thought things were going to go well for him.”
O’Brien’s July Cup record with 3-year-olds means many bettors will keep Little Big Bear firmly on their side. Master Ballydoyle has won the prize five times and four of his laureates are under the age of three (Stravinsky, Mozart, United States Navy Flagand Ten Sovereignities).
Stats reveal that of the 27 3-year-old runners trained by O’Brien, punters make a small profit backing them all on one stake.
