From The Telegraph.....
Grounds for concern over Sprint Cup hope Iffraaj
By HOTSPUR (J A McGrath)
Iffraaj has been an alarming drifter in ante-post betting on Saturday's Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park, but connections have warned that the colt has not been ruled out and that a late decision on his participation can be expected.
advertisementAll Iffraaj's best form has been on fast ground, and with the forecast for heavy showers, many punters (and possibly a few odds compilers) took the initiative yesterday and shortened Amadeus Wolf to 7-2 (from 6-1), while the Godolphin colt eased in betting to 4-1 (from 9-4). Others clipped were veteran Quito and Steenberg, into 14-1 (from 25-1).
"We want to run Iffraaj this weekend, but the ground must be suitable," said Simon Crisford, racing manager to Godolphin.
"He is also in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday, but the ground there will probably be the same as here. The horse is in cracking form after his win at Goodwood, and the time is right for him to have another race. This weekend would fit in perfectly to his programme in the build-up to the Breeders' Cup Mile," he added.
Then Crisford threw in what he described as "Plan C," an early trip to Kentucky for the Keeneland Mile on Oct 7. "That is still a long way off - and this horse wants a run now - but it is certainly another option.
"We will walk the course on Saturday morning before taking the final decision. It is pretty inconvenient for us, and everybody else, but if we got there and found it was 'good to soft' then he would run," he said.
This confusion will hardly stimulate the ante-post market, but it is understandable that connections want to find the best ground for a horse they expect to make an impact in the Mile at the Breeders' Cup Meeting at Churchill Downs in November.
|