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Luca Cumani planning York outing with Mizzou

3 minute read

Luca Cumani has mapped out a three-race programme for Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Mizzou, starting with an outing in next month's Lonsdale Cup at York.

The five-year-old is being readied for a drop back down in trip for the extended two-mile Group Two prize on August 19, which he finished second in 12 months ago.

After claiming a second successive victory in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot on his seasonal return, the son of Galileo found only Order Of St George too strong on his return to the Berkshire course last month.

Cumani said: "Mizzou ran very well at Ascot and I am very pleased by how he has come out of that race.

"He will probably now go for the Lonsdale Cup followed by the Doncaster Cup then back to Ascot at the end of the season for the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day."

While a number of targets have been drawn up for Mizzou, the Newmarket handler is to keep plans fluid for Koora following her below-par effort on her first foray into Group One company in last month's Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.

He said: "That was a disappointing run in Ireland and there was no apparent reason for it.

"We have given her a mini-break since then and we will pick her back up in a couple of weeks time.

"There are no plans at this stage, we will let her tell us when she is ready."

Although Group One winner Second Step has failed to fire in three starts this season, the five-year-old, who finished down the field in the Princess of Wales's Stakes on his most recent start at Newmarket, could still contest the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Cumani added: "Things didn't work out for him at Newmarket. He is another who is now on a mini-break before deciding where we go.

"He has got the entry in the King George. We will keep an eye on it to see if it is a possibility."