3 minute read
Henry Candy has warned punters that Limato, favourite for the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury, has been on two courses of antibiotics since his last race.
The unbeaten juvenile has looked incredibly exciting in winning the first three races of his career, and had little trouble dispatching Cotai Glory in a Listed race at the Berkshire track last time out.
The form is red hot, too, as Cotai Glory subsequently claimed the Molecomb at Goodwood and had the Flying Childers at Doncaster in the bag before George Baker was unseated last Friday.
But Limato was forced to miss the Gimcrack at York last month with a bad scope and Candy says his preparation has not been ideal.
"His form is good and he's obviously a good horse," said the Wantage handler.
"I just worry that he has scoped badly a few times and missed a couple of races. He's had two courses of antibiotics and his training has been a bit stop-start so I'd just be a bit worried in that regard.
"He seems well now but you'd just have to be a little worried how much it has affected him. I mustn't be too downbeat, though, as he's a very exciting horse."
Richard Hannon's Baitha Alga is forced to carry a penalty for his win in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. He then disappointed in the Gimcrack at York but Hannon is prepared to forgive him one bad run.
The Herridge handler told www.richardhannonracing.co.uk: "Nothing came to light as to why Baitha Alga ran so poorly in the Gimcrack, but we have suffered some surprise reverses in two-year-old races at York before and just put it down to a bad day at the office.
"That is the only blip on his CV - his overall form is very sound, and he is a real professional, so, despite the 3lb penalty, we feel that he will run his race. He worked very nicely under Kieran O'Neill on Tuesday, switching off beautifully, which he didn't do at York."
Another horse to struggle at York was Brian Meehan's impressive Ascot winner Growl, who finished down the field in the Acomb Stakes.
A statement posted on the Manton handler's website, www.brianmeehan.co.uk, r ead: "(He) showed a very good turn of foot to make a winning debut in a good maiden at Ascot and was fancied to go well when upped in class at York on his only other start.
"(He) ran below-par, but he remains a smart prospect and we are hoping he will leave the performance behind in what is a very interesting race."
The other least experienced horse in the line-up is the Charlie Hills-trained Strath Burn, who won his maiden at Newbury by three lengths before pushing Kool Kompany close in the Prix Robert Papin.
"This race has always been the plan as we were keen not to over-race him this season. He's a horse we really like and he'll be even better next season," said Hills.
"We've been pleased with his work at home and he looks to have a nice chance. It looks a competitive Mill Reef. You can't rule any of them out and it will take some winning, but we're happy with our horse."
Acomb runner-up Toocoolforschool is also in the hat for North Yorkshire trainer Karl Burke, who won the Mill Reef with Lord Shanakill in 2008. The son of Showcasing steps up in class but down in trip after he finished a close second to Nafaqa in a Listed event at Doncaster last Friday.
Burke said: "Whether the Newbury race will come too soon after Doncaster is the six-million-dollar question, but we did it with Lord Shanakill back in 2008 and he's come out of the race in good form. He has lots of natural speed and if you look back at the fractions from his run in the Acomb at York they back that up.
"The drop back to six furlongs should suit him."
The field is completed by Mark Johnston's Jungle Cat, placed in several Group races this season, Mubtaghaa, who won a sales race at York for William Haggas, and the Barry Hills-trained trained Kibaar.
