NEWMARKET, ENGLAND // The July Cup already looks stamped for export as the Group 1 sprint, which acts as the third British leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, is to be contested by an international contingent of strength and depth.
Although rarely won by an overseas raider, Saturday night’s 1,200-metre event leaves Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s Aljamaaheer with the responsibility of leading the defence for those horses trained in Britain.
Edward Lynam saddles Slade Power and Sole Power, Royal Ascot winners last month who appear to have the race in a vice-like grip.
The pair are joined in a five-pronged assault from across the Irish Sea by Aidan O’Brien’s Due Diligence, an unlucky runner-up behind Slade Power in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, and the proverbial dark horses of the lightly-raced Fountain Of Youth and fellow three year old Cougar Mountain.
There is also Noozhoh Canarias, the Spanish raider who was sixth in May behind Night Of Thunder, Kingman and Australia in what is fast becoming a vintage English 2,000 Guineas.
To add a dose of stardust to proceedings Undrafted has flown in from America and will represent Wes Welker, the potential Hall Of Fame wide receiver for the Denver Broncos American football team who was to travel overnight to Newmarket with Anna Burns, his wife and former Miss Hooters International.
Undrafted has become acquainted with the undulating July Course over the past two days thanks to a morning gallop under Frankie Dettori.
With 21 horses scratched before racing yesterday after 31 millimetres of rain had fallen on the track since Thursday morning, the going has gone against Wesley Ward’s raider.
Welker, who is halfway through a US$12 million (Dh44m) two-year contract at Denver, is still hopeful his charge can triumph.
“It’s always nice to go and just enjoy it as a regular fan of the sport,” Welker said from the Florida training camp where he is preparing for the new NFL season, which starts in September.
“I get in early Saturday morning and head straight to the races, hopefully celebrate a little bit that night, then fly back the next morning.”
The going may have also gone against Sole Power, too, who may skip the race to leave his stablemate to fly the flag for Lynam and Darley, who sponsor the race on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Darley bought Slade Power earlier this week in a deal that will see the five-year-old entire race next in Australia for November’s VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington, the penultimate leg of the Global Sprint Challenge. The momentum generated on Thursday by horses owned by connections based in the UAE came to a quick halt yesterday when Rizeena had no answer to the turn of foot of Integral, who augmented her win at Royal Ascot with a two-length success in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes.
Before the race jockey Olivier Peslier joked that the lack of front-runners in the race would not be a concern for Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook’s filly as he was used to such situations in France.
Despite all of Peslier’s experience, he was found out by a sublime Ryan Moore, who kicked for the winning post a second earlier than his six rivals.
“We had a good start and showed good acceleration but the winner was just too strong today,” Peslier said.
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