The horse attraction can launch a fantastic weekend for the fairer sex at Newbury tomorrow.
Last year’s 1,000 Guineas winner makes only her second appearance of the season in the Hungerford Stakes free bet, but she has the class to make light of her long lay-off.
Mark Johnston’s four-year-old has not run since May, when she was a well-beaten 11th of 13th in Hong Kong. But there is no denying her ability. Indeed, Attraction stands out as one of the best fillies of recent years.
She followed up last season’s Classic success at Newmarket by running away with the Irish equivalent, then turning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot into a procession. She was subsequently twice runner-up to Soviet Song, but landed her fourth Group One in a matter of months when returning to Newmarket in the autumn.
"She had a fetlock injury which she took a while to get over and that has disrupted the season,” said Johnston. “She’s in good shape but we’ll be delighted to get another run under her belt."
Despite carrying an 81b penalty Attraction should possess too much talent for the likes of Council Member and New Seeker, who is raised into Group company after winning two top handicaps.
Day Flight can stop Mubtaker’s historic bid for a fourth successive victory in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes. John Gosden thinks highly of the four-year-old, who rattled up a hat-trick in the early part of the season before finding Gamut too good at Newmarket.
He has been rested for a late summer campaign and can show the benefit of that break tomorrow.
Mubtaker is sure to have his supporters, but the veteran has failed to sparkle this term, finishing third at Sandown before disappointing in the King George.
On Sunday Divine Proportions can stamp herself the best
miler of her generation in the Prix Jacques le Marios at
Deauvifie. Pascal Bary’s stable star has proved herself an
exceptional performer, winning two classics in France
without coming out of third gear.
Godoiphin’s Dubawi is a high-class rival, but Divine
Proportions could yet prove herself to be invincible. Balkan
Knight can land next week’s Tote Ebor at York. His dose
second to Golden Quest at Goodwood was franked when the
winner went on to run Distinction close in the Goodwood Cup.
|
