Ollie Sangster is paying close attention to the weather conditions at Sandown as he aims for consecutive victories in the European Bloodstock News EBF Star Stakes with Celestial Orbit.
It was this very race a year ago that marked the first significant win in his budding training career, achieved with the currently sidelined star Shuwari.
Now, Sangster hopes to replicate that Listed success with his impressive Haydock winner, who displayed significant improvement after her debut at Kempton.
However, drying conditions in Esher could pose a challenge, prompting Celestial Orbit's trainer to hope for the forecasted rain on Thursday to come through.
“Jamie (Spencer) gave her a nice ride at Haydock, and she seemed to take a nice bit of improvement from her debut at Kempton, and she won well in the end I think,” said Sangster.
“I also had her in a Group Three in Deauville on Sunday, but she doesn’t actually want the ground too fast. We’re slightly watching the weather forecast and there’s quite a lot of rain forecast on Thursday, it’s just whether it comes in time or not. It looks like it will be quick in France as well, so the plan is to run on Thursday unless it’s fast ground. It looks like a competitive race, and we will just have to see if the rain comes in time.”
Sangster will have a clearer picture of his main rivals, especially with probable race favourite Flaming Stone, who recently defeated well-regarded stablemate Flight by four lengths at Newbury.
Trained by Andrew Balding, the Kingman filly made a strong impression in her Berkshire win, and her connections believe it’s the right time for her to step up to a higher level.
“She won well and it might not have been the strongest contest, the Ollie Sangster horse (Flight) ran well next time when second at Newmarket, but she hit the line well, she looked good and Oisin Murphy was very complimentary of her,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.
“It’s the next stepping stone now into stakes company and she will hopefully go there and have a good chance. It’s a lovely time on the calendar for her to go there and try to get some black type and then there’s a whole host of lovely fillies’ Group races coming up later in the year. Hopefully, she will be able to step up to this kind of level on Thursday and then we can keep moving up the ladder slowly.”
Murphy, who rode Flaming Stone at Newbury, will face her this time aboard Archie Watson’s Lingfield winner Del Ray, while Sir Mark Prescott’s Alla Stella steps up in class just nine days after a comfortable win at Kempton.
The Terminus, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and representing King Power Racing, exemplified both class and determination after a slow start to win on debut, while Grant Tuer’s Love Talks adds to the depth of this highly competitive race after putting up a strong performance against colts in France.