Regal out to reign again at Haydock
Friday 3 September 2010
Adrian Nicholls hopes to create a bit of racing history when he seeks back-to-back victories on Regal Parade in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday.
Only one horse has won the big six-furlong sprint twice and that was Peter O'Sullevan's Be Friendly, who took the first two runnings in 1966 and 1967.
To add to the story Regal Parade is trained by Nicholls' father, David.
'I read in the papers that only one horse has won this race twice, so it would be nice to get a bit of history,' said Nicholls.
Regal Parade goes for the double in tremendous heart, he is on a hat-trick after wins in Newbury's Shadwell Stakes and the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.
'He's in good form, I can't wait and I'm looking forward to it,' Nicholls went on.
'To go to France and win such a prestigious race was good. There were a lot of talking horses in the race and he absolutely battered them.
'He's flying at home and any bit of rain would help his chances. The ground is drying out but as long as it's not firm I won't be too bothered.
'I've made a few phone calls and they reckon it will be perfect racing ground. That would be ideal for him really.
'Obviously the O'Brien horse (Starspangledbanner) earlier on in the year looked quite special so I'll be looking forward to trying to beat it.'
Colm O'Donoghue cannot wait to team up with Aidan O'Brien's Starspangledbanner, winner of the Golden Jubilee and the July Cup, in a race for the first time.
O'Donoghue rides the Australian import every day on the gallops at Ballydoyle, and comes in for the mount as Johnny Murtagh is in action for the trainer at Leopardstown.
'I sit on him at home every day. He knows me better then I know myself!' said O'Donoghue.
'I'm delighted to get the ride and so happy that the boss has given me the chance. It's a great race and he's a very good horse.
'He's proved he's probably the best sprinter around. The field he beat in Royal Ascot was amazing. They were some of the best sprinters around in the world at that time.
'We've got masses of respect for the opposition. There are good horses like Regal Parade, who has been in great form, and it's never going to be easy.'
Robin Bastiman feels Borderlescott may have needed his run in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York two weeks ago following his injury scare after winning at Glorious Goodwood.
The Wetherby trainer reports his ever popular eight-year-old stable star to be in tip-top form now.
'He's really well in himself. I just wish it was the Nunthorpe tomorrow instead of this race,' said Bastiman.
'He was stood in his box for a week after Goodwood. I only had two weeks to prepare him for York and maybe it wasn't long enough.
'He's very well in himself now and we are really pleased with him and we are looking forward to it.'
Another Yorkshire trainer with high hopes of a good run is David Brown, responsible for Doncaster Rover.
The four-year-old goes for Group One glory on the back of a victory at Newmarket last Saturday, his first in 12 months.
'He's in great shape and he's come out of his race very, very well,' said Brown.
'Obviously it's a tough contest, but if you're not in it, you can't win it. He deserves his place in the line-up.
'He was wrong when he ran at Chester at the beginning of last month. We got him right and this is the best he's ever come out of a race, so I'm very hopeful he's going to run a big race.'
Lady Of The Desert tries her hand at sprinting after not quite making the grade against the best of her generation and sex over a mile.
Brian Meehan's charge ran well despite finishing out of the frame in the French 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes on her last two starts.
'She's got plenty to do against these top sprinters, but she's running over six furlongs and we believe she's definitely a sprinter. She didn't stay in the spring,' said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah.
'This is the only real race to bring her back in after the summer. This is a find-out mission.'
