NEWMARKET’S TNT JULY STAKES ON AGENDA FOR COVENTRY STAKES RUNNER-UP ELZAAM

Trainer Michael Jarvis is considering letting his exciting juvenile Elzaam take his chance in the £70,000 Group Two TNT July Stakes (2.00pm), one of the highlights of the second day of the Newmarket July Festival on Thursday, 8th July.



The Australian-bred, Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned colt gave his sire Redoute’s Choice a first northern hemisphere winner on 13th May when posting an impressive all-the-way success in a six-furlong York maiden.



He followed up that victory by going down by a nose to the current ante-post favourite for next year’s Stan James-sponsored 2000 Guineas, the Richard Hannon-trained Strong Suit, in the Group Two Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot on 15th June.



Jarvis revealed today: “Elzaam is a possibility for the TNT July Stakes at the moment - there are one or two options open for him and the July Festival would obviously come into the reckoning.



“He’s come out his run at Royal Ascot in A1 shape and I was very pleased with his performance there. It was a high-class renewal of the Coventry Stakes and he ran a super race.



“He was out in front for quite a long time and he did start to look around a bit in the last half-furlong. While Strong Suit would have probably have been judged unfortunate if he didn’t get up, I think if Elzaam hadn’t idled a little bit in front, then we might have won.



“He was only having his second start and we were very happy with him - he is a decent horse.



“If we were to meet Strong Suit again in the TNT July Stakes, I would be hopeful rather than confident that we could turn the tables. We would be getting 3lb but he looked value for a bit more and I wouldn’t be looking to take him on again.”



The July Festival offers three days of outstanding racing action on the beautiful July Course, including the £185,000 Group One Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes on Wednesday, 7th July, and the third British leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, the £400,000 Darley July Cup, on Friday, 9th July.



For more information please contact:

Michael Prosser, Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, 07802 844 578

Tony Rushmer, Racing PR Manager, 07702 579 382



http://www.newmarketracecourse.co.uk



ENDS