View from connections ahead of Friday’s Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Lyric Stakes at York.
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Regardez (l) carries a penalty at York
Connections are hoping the progressive Regardez can be the star turn on Friday’s six-race card at York when she lines up in the Listed feature, the British Stallion Studs EBF Lyric Stakes.
Trained by Ralph Beckett, Regardez ran out an emphatic six-length winner of a similar race, the Hoppings Stakes, at Newcastle in June. Before that, she had shaped with promise on the Knavesmire when third to Madame Chiang in the Group Three Tattersalls Musidora Stakes over Friday evening’s distance of an extended mile and a quarter.
The three-year-old daughter of Champs Elysees faces seven rivals and is required to carry a 3lb penalty for her recent Listed victory – as does Godolphin’s Tasaday.
However, Beckett was impressed with the manner of her success at Newcastle and has fingers crossed that there is more to come from Regardez.
“I am looking forward to running her again on Friday. She came out of the race at Newcastle well. I am slightly sceptical as to the form at face value, in the sense that the first and second favourite both disappointed,” he said.
“But at the same time, she ran a good time and you couldn’t fail to be impressed by the way she did it.
“York suited her in the Musidora and I think it will suit her again on Friday. I am hopeful that she will go close, but obviously it will be more difficult under a penalty.”
With York enjoying a warm week, horses are likely to be competing on summer ground – but the signs are that Regardez appreciates fast underfoot conditions.
Beckett added: “It was quick at Newcastle and she bounced off it and I don’t think that will be a problem.”
Newmarket-based trainer William Jarvis is also looking forward to running Raskova in the same contest.
The daughter of Henrythenavigator has been in good form this summer, winning a handicap at Nottingham on her penultimate start before finishing second in a handicap at Ascot last time out.
Jarvis said: “Raskova is in good form. She has been running consistently well in handicaps and deserves a crack at a Listed race.
“She is well bred and it would be great to try and get some ‘black type’ with her. She needs to improve a couple of pounds on official ratings but she is very well and I think she is capable of running well.
“She is versatile regarding ground conditions and a galloping track suits her well.”
In addition to Tasaday, Godolphin will also be represented by Albasharah while in-form trainer Tom Dascombe runs Ripon handicap scorer Wall Of Sound in search of the £40,000 prize pot.
The field is completed by the Richard Fahey-trained Flycatcher, John Quinn’s Tahira and Regal Hawk, who was last seen chasing home Regardez at Newcastle.