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A field of nine go to post for Friday’s Doncaster Cup, Britain's oldest race run under the Rules of Racing which has its 250th anniversary.
First staged in 1766, the two and a quarter-mile Group Two contest boasts a prize fund of £100,000 and forms part of the stayers' edition of the British Champion Series as well as being the final leg of the stayers' Triple Crown. The last horse to win the Stayers' Triple Crown at Town Moor was Mark Johnston's Double Trigger in 1995, who was a three-time winner of the Doncaster Cup (1995, 1996 and 1998).
Recent winners of the Group Two event include dual victor Times Up (2012 & 2013), Her Majesty the Queen's Estimate (2014) and last year's winner Pallasator. A trophy created by Sheffield-born silversmith Christopher Perry, has been commissioned to mark the 250th anniversary of the race. A one-off exhibition set up in the main grandstand on Doncaster Cup day will be available for racegoers to enjoy which highlights the race's long-standing history and displays memorabilia from past runnings of the contest. Four companies involved in building a new hotel at the racecourse are partners of the Doncaster Cup this year.
The market for this year's renewal is headed by Mizzou - trained by Luca Cumani, who is seeking his third victory in the race following Buckley (1987) and Boreas (2002). The lightly-raced son of Galileo was a neck winner of an Ascot Group Three in April on his seasonal debut before finishing an excellent three-length second to Order Of St George in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June. Andrea Atzeni, who rode to Pallasator to victory in this race last year, partners the five-year-old.
Peter Niven's eight-year-old Clever Cookie, has his second run in the race after finishing fourth in the 2014 contest. Niven's charge has had a busy campaign this term which has included a half-length victory in the Group Two Betway Yorkshire Cup in May and a seventh-placed finish in the Ascot Gold Cup. The Primo Valentino gelding was an eight lengths fifth on his latest start in the Group Two Lonsdale Cup in August behind another of today's rivals Quest For More. Trained by Roger Charlton and ridden by George Baker, the progressive six-year-old was ninth in last year's Melbourne Cup and also finished sixth in the Qatar Goodwood Cup in July.
Sir Mark Prescott bids to record back-to-back successes in the Doncaster Cup following Pallasator's victory last year. The Newmarket handler saddles St Michel who steps up to Group company following a productive season which has seen the son of Sea The Stars win four of his eight starts. The colt is on a hat-trick following victories at Newmarket and Goodwood in August. The last three-year-old to win the Doncaster Cup was the John Oxx-trained Saddlers Rock in 2011 with only 18 horses of classic age prevailing in this race since 1900. Luke Morris takes the ride.
Ryan Moore seeks to gain his fourth Doncaster Cup win aboard Clondaw Warrior for Willie Mullins following his victories on Askar Tau (2009), Times Up (2013) and Estimate (2014). The nine-year-old son of Overbury was a three-quarter length second in the 2015 renewal and finished a one and three-quarter length second in the Group Three American St Leger at Arlington on his latest start, having won the Galway Plate in July. Mullins' charge would become the oldest horse since 10-year-old Persian Punch in 2003 to win the race and only the second nine-year-old to triumph in the contest (Beeswing, 1842).
Globetrotting star Sheikhzayedroad represents David Simcock and Martin Harley. The son of Dubawi was successful in a Group Three at Meydan in March and finished third in the Ascot Gold Cup and Qatar Goodwood Cup on his latest starts. The gelding would become the ninth seven-year-old to win the race since 1900. Simcock also saddles Curbyourenthusiasm who was successful in the Ladbrokes Mallard Handicap at this meeting last year. The grey Mastercraftsman gelding was a well-beaten last of seven in the Yorkshire Cup on the Knavesmire last time out. Jamie Spencer, seeking his second victory in the race following Boreas' victory in 2002, takes the ride.
Marcus Tregoning's Burmese, ridden by William Buick, has run creditably since stepping up to Group company this season. The four-year-old was a two and a half-length fifth in an Ascot Group Three in April and also fifth in the Gold Cup at the Royal meeting. The son of Sir Percy bids to provide Tregoning with his second victory in the race following Askar Tau's 2009 success.
Sweet Selection, trained by Hughie Morrison, also steps up to Group company for the first time having won three consecutive handicaps this season. The four-year-old was fourth at York last time, following a hat-trick of victories in handicaps and completes the nine-runner field. PJ McDonald partners the son of Stimulation.
