LOOKING FORWARD TO DONCASTER'S GROUP TWO PARK STAKES TO BE RUN ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11 2010

AGA KHAN’S FRENCH RAIDERS AMONG FANTASTIC PARK STAKES ENTRIES



The £160,000 Group Two Park Stakes takes place over seven furlongs at the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster on Saturday, September 11, and has attracted a fantastic entry of 53, including the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained pair of Varenar and Dalghar from France. With no penalties applicable, the Park Stakes is run with Group One conditions.



Varenar, who along with Dalghar is owned by the Aga Khan, defeated the great Goldikova to land the Group One Prix de la Foret over the distance at Longchamp in October and was a close sixth in the six-furlong Darley July Cup at Newmarket last time.



The Chantilly-based trainer revealed today: “We are looking at the Park Stakes as a possibility for Varenar and Dalghar. They both like the seven-furlong distance.



“Varenar ran very well in the Darley July Cup but the jockey gave him a bad ride. He was inside and then went outside - we don’t know why. If he had stayed on the good pace, he could have been fourth.”



Dalghar, a handsome grey Anabaa half-brother to the champions Dalakhani and Daylami, won the seven-furlong Group Three Prix du Palais-Royal at Longchamp on June 5. The lightly-raced four-year-old then contested the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and faded in the closing stages to finish fifth behind Goldikova.



De Royer-Dupre continued: “Dalghar ran well in the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot but the mile was too long for him. Next, he will run at Goodwood in the Group Two Betfair Cup over seven furlongs. Afterwards we will look at Doncaster and decide whether we go with Dalghar or Varenar.



“If the ground is soft, it is not a problem for Varenar, he can go on all ground. For Dalghar, I prefer firmer going. Dalghar has a very nice pedigree and is a good looking horse. He has not had many races, he is fresh and we hope for improvement.”



The race is also on the agenda for Australian-trained Group One winner Alverta, who is stationed at Abington Place in Newmarket and has the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville as her next target before a planned tilt at the Park Stakes, followed by the Group One Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.



Trained by Paul Messara, the seven-year-old mare landed the Group One Coolmore Classic over an extended seven furlongs in March before travelling to England for the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, in which she failed to fire. Alverta posted a career best effort on her latest start however, when a length third to Starspangledbanner in the Group One Darley July Cup.



Also among a host of top notch entries is the Henry Cecil-trained Lord Shanakill, who captured the Group One Prix Jean Prat last term and saw off Dunelight to win a Listed contest at Chester on July 10, while the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Main Aim has won the past two renewals of the Group Three Timeform Jury Stakes at Haydock.



Richard Hannon’s triple Group One-winning miler Paco Boy, beaten only a neck by Goldikova in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes last time, has been engaged, while Chris Wall may run Group Two totesport.com Summer Mile hero Premio Loco.



Also entered are three of last season’s leading juvenile colts, Arcano, Beethoven and Awzaan.



The Brian Meehan-trained Group One Prix Morny winner Arcano was last seen finishing third behind Dick Turpin and Canford Cliffs in the Group Three Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April.



Beethoven landed the Group One Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket in October for trainer Aidan O’Brien, who has also engaged recent Group Three Minstrel Stakes winner Air Chief Marshal and Emperor Claudius, unbeaten in three starts this season.



The Mark Johnston-trained Awzaan won the Group One Middle Park Stakes in an unbeaten two-year-old campaign before disappointing on his only start this term in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.



Johnston has also entered, among others, Group Three Jersey Stakes heroine Rainfall, who was a fine third to Music Show in the Group One Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival, as well as St Moritz, who saw off Palace Moon to win the Bunbury Cup at the same meeting.



The Jeremy Noseda-trained Arabian Gleam was denied a hat-trick of Park Stakes wins last year when third behind the Eddie Lynam-trained Duff, who held the Brian Meehan-trained Cat Junior by a neck. Arabian Gleam went on to win the Group Two Challenge Stakes at Newmarket in October.



Meehan could also saddle last season’s Group Two Lowther Stakes heroine Lady Of The Desert, while Serious Attitude, winner of the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes in 2008, has been entered by trainer Rae Guest.



Godolphin could be represented by any of eight entries, all from the Saeed bin Suroor stable, including Delegator, runner-up to Sea The Stars in the 2009 renewal of the 2,000 Guineas and last year’s Group Two Champagne Stakes winner Poet’s Voice.



HERBERT WON’T DENY COLT’S CHAMPAGNE STAKES PROSPECTS



Sir Michael Stoute has included the unraced juvenile Deny among the 82 entries for the £100,000 Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster’s Ladbrokes St Leger Festival on Saturday, September 11.



The seven-furlong contest is one of the highlights of the season for two-year-olds with its roll of honour including subsequent champions such as Grundy (1974), Warning (1987), Rodrigo De Triano (1991) and Noverre (2000).



Owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s Matilda syndicate, Deny is a 150,000 guineas yearling purchase out of Sulk, winner of the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac as a two-year-old in 2001.



The Mr Greeley colt is one of five Champagne Stakes entries for Stoute, who won the prestigious contest in 1979 with Final Straw, the others being the unraced quartet of Labarinto, Raahin, Star Of Dance and Epsom Derby entry The Mongoose.



Harry Herbert, managing director of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, revealed today: “Deny is only just now moving into fast work so we will have to see how he gets on but they like him at Sir Michael’s and you can see why. He is the horse you pick out in the string and say, ‘oh, what’s that’, and likewise going up the gallops.



“It’s early days but, fingers crossed, he could be a nice horse and that is Sir Michael’s entry so we will take it as a positive sign at this stage.



“He was a most beautiful yearling and is a magnificent stamp of horse. He is beautifully bred by Mr Greeley out of a two-year-old champion filly, Sulk. He is a physical specimen, very imposing and a fabulous mover. He is one of those horses that glides over the ground, you don’t hear him when he comes past, he is really light on his feet.”



Trainer Richard Hannon has a classy bunch of two-year-olds this season and has engaged a trio of Newmarket July Festival winners. King Torus landed the Group Two 32Red.com Superlative Stakes at Newmarket on July 9, Libranno won the Group Two TNT July Stakes on July 8, and Casual Glimpse took a six-furlong conditions race the same day.



The Michael Jarvis-trained Elzaam was collared in the final stride when second to Strong Suit in the Group Two Coventry Stakes and was third to Libranno at Newmarket, while the Jeremy Noseda-trained Formosina defeated Samuel Morse when taking the Group Two Ladbrokes.com Railway Stakes at the Curragh in June but was sixth of six to King Torus at Newmarket last time.



The Clive Brittain-trained Zaidan is unbeaten in two starts and impressively landed the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot by three lengths.



Memen gave trainer Paul Cole a nursery success at Newmarket’s July Festival, while the same meeting saw the Ed Dunlop-trained Native Khan make an impressive winning debut.



Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle entry is 18-strong with Samuel Morse joined in the list by, among others, Listed winner Zoffany, Listed Windsor Castle Stakes runner-up Petronius Maximus and promising Curragh maiden winner Roderic O’Connor.



For more information, please contact:

Kate Hills

Director of Public Relations and Communications, Arena Leisure Racing

Tel: 01342 834800

Fax: 01342 835874

Mobile: 07813 947201

Email: kate.hills@arenaleisureplc.com





THE PARK STAKES

Class 1, Group 2, £160,000 Total Prize Fund. Doncaster, Saturday, September 11, 2010. For three-year-olds and upwards, seven furlongs. Weights: three-year-old colts and geldings 9st, fillies 8st 11lb; four-year-old and up colts and geldings 9st 4lb, fillies 9st 1lb. Entries closed Tuesday, July 20, entries revealed Thursday, July 22 (53 entries). Scratchings deadline noon, August 24, five-day confirmation stage September 6, final declaration stage, 10.00am, Thursday, September 9. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, July 19, 2010. May not include some overseas form.



Form Horse Age Owner Trainer

4-040(1)1 AIR CHIEF MARSHAL (IRE) 3 Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE

2-(1)032 ALDOVRANDI (IRE) 3 Tenuta Dorna Di Montaltuzzo SRL Marco Botti

312103 ALVERTA (AUS) 7 John Messara, J Leaver & A Jones Paul Messara AUS

1/3031-6 ARABIAN GLEAM 6 Saeed Suhail Jeremy Noseda

111-3 ARCANO (IRE) 3 Hamdan Al Maktoum Brian Meehan

0(1)15-64 ASHRAM (IRE) 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

1111-0 AWZAAN 3 Hamdan Al Maktoum Mark Johnston

2105-00 BALTHAZAAR'S GIFT (IRE) 7 H E Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Clive Cox

635-542 BEACON LODGE (IRE) 5 Mr and Mrs P Hargreaves Clive Cox

3461(6)-6 BEETHOVEN (IRE) 3 Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

1102-00 BORDER PATROL 4 Elite Racing Club Roger Charlton

5(5)(1)(0)40 CAT JUNIOR (USA) 5 Roldvale Limited Brian Meehan

2/1(1)-215 DALGHAR (FR) 4 H H Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR

202D35- DELEGATOR 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

0-42502 DUFF (IRE) 7 Kilboy Estate Edward Lynam IRE

266-111 EMPEROR CLAUDIUS (USA) 3 Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

110-515 FIELD OF DREAM 3 Exors of the late Liam Cashman Luca Cumani

03/010-0 FINJAAN 4 Hamdan Al Maktoum Marcus Tregoning

0-(2)(0)(5)05 FORGOTTEN VOICE (IRE) 5 Susan Roy Jeremy Noseda

1-5(0)205 FRAVASHI (AUS) 5 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

310-625 GOLDEN STREAM (IRE) 4 The Queen Sir Michael Stoute

5-01101 HARRISON GEORGE (IRE) 5 P D Smith Holdings Ltd Richard Fahey

134-102 HIGH STANDING (USA) 5 Tony Bloom William Haggas

(3)(4)-0222 HIMALYA (IRE) 4 Gillian Khosla Jeremy Noseda

2306-(0)0 ICELANDIC 8 Scuderia A4/5 Frank Sheridan

5(1)5-140 KING OF DIXIE (USA) 6 Bluehills Racing Limited William Knight

113-356 LADY OF THE DESERT (USA) 3 Jaber Abdullah Brian Meehan

50-3401 LORD SHANAKILL (USA) 4 Mogeely Stud & Mark Gittins Henry Cecil

(3)11603 LOVELACE 6 Dab Hand Racing David Nicholls

(1)1-1230 MABAIT 4 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Luca Cumani

004-310 MAIN AIM 5 Khalid Abdulla Sir Michael Stoute

21-5101 OASIS DANCER 3 Heather Slade Ralph Beckett

642-204 OUQBA 4 Hamdan Al Maktoum Barry Hills

142-112 PACO BOY (IRE) 5 The Calvera Partnership No 2 Richard Hannon

100-532 PALACE MOON 5 Canisbay Bloodstock William Knight

1314-00 POET'S VOICE 3 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

11-(5)011 PREMIO LOCO (USA) 6 Bernard Westley Chris Wall

2(4)1100 PRIME DEFENDER 6 S Falle, M Franklin, J Sumsion Barry Hills

4242-10 PUFF (IRE) 3 Mr and Mrs David Aykroyd Ralph Beckett

1213 RAINFALL (IRE) 3 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston

01-2012 RAKAAN (IRE) 3 Jamie Osborne Jamie Osborne

3-10222 RED JAZZ (USA) 3 Ronnie Arculli Barry Hills

5(1)1011 SEA LORD (IRE) 3 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston

12/331-3 SECRECY 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

010-200 SERIOUS ATTITUDE (IRE) 4 Derek Willis & Rae Guest Rae Guest

116-165 SHAKESPEAREAN (IRE) 3 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

(1)(1)0362 SIROCCO BREEZE 5 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

(1)-(1)(5)(3)3 SKYSURFERS 4 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

(1)5-3231 ST MORITZ (IRE) 4 Renata Jacobs Mark Johnston

41/0310- SUMMER FETE (IRE) 4 H E Sheikh Rashid Bin Mohammed Bryan Smart

(1)(5)-3221 TREADWELL (IRE) 3 Cath Walwyn & A Taylor Jamie Osborne

421-406 VARENAR (FR) 4 H H Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR

242-121 YAA WAYL (IRE) 3 Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum Michael Jarvis



53 Entries

4 Irish-trained

2 French-trained

1 Australian-trained



THE CHAMPAGNE STAKES

Class 1, Group 2, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. Doncaster, Saturday, September 11, 2010. For 2yo, colts & geldings, seven furlongs. Weights: 8st 12lb. Penalties: a winner of a Group 1 or Group 2 race 3lb. Entries closed Tuesday, July 20, entries revealed Thursday, July 22 (82 entries), scratchings deadline noon, August 25, five-day confirmation and £10,000 supplementary entry stage September 6, final declaration stage, 10.00am, Thursday, September 9. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, July 19, 2010. May not include some overseas form.



Form Horse Owner Trainer

AERIAL ACCLAIM (IRE) Mr and Mrs P Hargreaves Clive Cox

3 ALEXANDER POPE (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

AMEN (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE

ARGOCAT (IRE) Fitri Hay Paul Cole

21 BELGIAN BILL Mr & Mrs David Heath George Baker

0 BLOODSWEATANDTEARS Four Men & A Dream Partnership William Knight

CASTLEMORRIS KING C O'Connell Michael Chapman

151 CASUAL GLIMPSE Sir Robert Ogden Richard Hannon

21254 CHILWORTH LAD 7RUS Mick Channon

COMMENDED E D Kessly Barry Hills

11 CROWN PROSECUTOR (IRE) Sangster Families Brian Meehan

DAREJ (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum William Haggas

DENY Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Matilda) Sir Michael Stoute

112 DRAWING BOARD Mrs J Ryan Kevin Ryan

DREAM ACHIEVED Khalid Abdulla Barry Hills

1 DREAM AHEAD (USA) Khalifa Dasmal David Simcock

21 EASY TICKET (IRE) John Fretwell David Brown

EBONY SONG (USA) Bluehills Racing Limited Jeremy Noseda

4 EL MUQBIL (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum Brian Meehan

123 ELZAAM (AUS) Hamdan Al Maktoum Michael Jarvis

024104 EMPEROR HADRIAN (IRE) Sue Magnier,Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE

ENJOY TODAY (USA) Jaber Abdullah Brian Meehan

FACTUM (USA) Joe Allen/Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE

4 FITYAAN Hamdan Al Maktoum Barry Hills

3116 FORMOSINA (IRE) Daniel Pittack Jeremy Noseda

GARDE COTIERE (USA) Sir Robert Ogden Jeremy Noseda

4 GOLDEN HINDE Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston

HAPPY TODAY (USA) Jaber Abdullah Brian Meehan

01 HIGH RULER (USA) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

KARAM ALBAARI (IRE) Fhad Al Harthi John Jenkins

141 KING TORUS (IRE) Sir Robert Ogden Richard Hannon

KOTA SAS (IRE) HRH Sultan Ahmad Shah Michael Jarvis

LAAJOOJ (IRE) Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum Michael Jarvis

LABARINTO Khalid Abdulla Sir Michael Stoute

LAKE ONTARIO (USA) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

LAMASAAS (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum Barry Hills

11 LIBRANNO McDowell Racing Richard Hannon

LOOSE QUALITY (USA) Fitri Hay Tom Tate

5411 MAJOR CONQUEST (IRE) T J W Ellis John Hills

MANTOBA Manton Racing Partnership Brian Meehan

MARDEN (IRE) Sangster Families Brian Meehan

MASHAAREF Hamdan Al Maktoum Michael Jarvis

5221 MASTER OF HOUNDS (USA) Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

4141 MEMEN (IRE) Jared Sullivan Paul Cole

MUNTASIB (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum Marcus Tregoning

1 NATIVE KHAN (FR) Ibraham Araci Ed Dunlop

NO HERETIC Fitri Hay Paul Cole

35 OCEAN BAY Ocean Trailers Ltd John Ryan

52 ORACLE (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

OUTRIDER (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

0 PARK AVENUE (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

PEARL ARCH (IRE) Pearl Bloodstock Ltd Brian Meehan

PETER MARTINS (USA) The Honorable Earle Mack Jeremy Noseda

332S PETRONIUS MAXIMUS (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE

2131 PREMIER CLARETS (IRE) The Matthewman Partnership Richard Fahey

PRESIDENT LINCOLN (USA) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

RAAHIN (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum Sir Michael Stoute

42 ROBIN HOOD (IRE) Sue Magnier,Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE

31 RODERIC O'CONNOR (IRE) Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Sangster Family Aidan O’Brien IRE

1 ROMAN EAGLE (IRE) Alan Spence Michael Jarvis

413 RUDOLF VALENTINO Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

11422 SAMUEL MORSE (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

1 SATIN LOVE (USA) Crone Stud Farms Ltd Mark Johnston

1 SHROPSHIRE (IRE) Hon Catherine Corbett, Chris Wright Barry Hills

SISINDU (IRE) Brimacombe, McNally, Vinciguerra, Sangster Brian Meehan

0 SOLE DANSER (IRE) South Bank Thoroughbred Racing Barry Hills

STAR OF DANCE (IRE) Sir Robert Ogden Sir Michael Stoute

512S TENTORIAN (IRE) Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston

STRATEGIC BID Fitri Hay Paul Cole

TANJUNG AGAS (IRE) HRH Sultan Ahmad Shah Michael Jarvis

0 THE BELLS O PEOVER D & G Mercer Mark Johnston

31 THE LONG GAME Sangster Families Brian Meehan

THE MONGOOSE Lady Rothschild Sir Michael Stoute

21 THE PADDYMAN (IRE) Bob & Pauline Scott William Haggas

TITUS MILLS (IRE) Sangster Family Brian Meehan

TOM SAWYER Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

U(1) TOOLAIN (IRE) Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum Michael Jarvis

621 WAITER'S DREAM R P Foden Brian Meehan

11 WALTZ DARLING (IRE) Mike Browne Richard Fahey

11 ZAIDAN (USA) Saeed Manana Clive Brittain

ZAIN SHAMARDAL (IRE) Jaber Abdullah Brian Meehan

1161 ZOFFANY (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE



82 entries

18 Irish-trained




END