Andrew Balding believes triple Group One winner Alcohol Free could be “right in the mix” if she lines up in next month’s Darley July Cup at Newmarket’s Moët & Chandon July Festival.
The daughter of No Nay Never, who also holds an entry in the Group One Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at the three day meeting, is one of 22 remaining entries for the six furlong contest on Saturday 9th July following today’s scratchings deadline. This year the Darley July Cup is worth a record £600,000 and continues to form part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.
Alcohol Free reverted back to six furlongs in last Saturday’s Group One Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot for the first time since landing the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes on the Rowley Mile in 2020 on her final start as a two year old.
Having claimed third in the bet365 Mile at Sandown Park on her return in April before finishing fourth in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last month over the same trip, Alcohol Free finished a respectable ninth on her return to sprinting at the Royal meeting.
Despite occupying her lowest ever finishing position at the weekend Kingsclere handler Balding believes it was her best run of the season on ground that would not have been ideal, prompting plenty of enthusiasm ahead of a potential Darley July Cup tilt.
He said: “Our thought is that she would be right in the mix in those top six furlong races if the ground is on the slow side.
“Given the conditions at Ascot on Saturday, it was an amazing run as we know she is that much better on softer ground.
“We felt on Saturday it was her best performance of the season by a country mile. She is happy to run over six and seven furlongs or a mile, but the ground is the deciding factor.
“If there was rain around then the July Cup could be the right race and I think on slower ground she would be right up there.
“She is a triple Group One winner and it is not like we are training a colt to try and preserve his stallion value. We will keep all options open and try and run for top prize money where and when we can.”
Other notable entries in the race which go forward at this stage include the Richard Fahey-trained Perfect Power, who claimed victory in the Group One Commonwealth Cup at the Royal meeting, and Platinum Jubilee Stakes winner and runner-up Naval Crown and Creative Force from the Charlie Appleby yard.
Despite the withdrawal of the Chris Waller-trained pair Nature Strip and Home Affairs and Campanelle from the Wesley Ward stable, there remains plenty of overseas interest in the race.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman trained Artorius, who was third in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, flies the flag for Australia while Japanese raider King Hermes from the Yoshito Yahagi yard features among the list of entries.
Darley July Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series) 6f
Artorius (AUS) 4 9 8 Newgate, China Horse Club & Partners Anthony & Sam Freedman Australia
Blackrod 4 9 8 Mr David W. Armstrong Michael Dods
Creative Force (IRE) 4 9 8 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
Dragon Symbol 4 9 8 Mr Yoshiro Kubota Roger Varian
Emaraaty Ana 6 9 8 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Kevin Ryan
Glen Shiel 8 9 8 Hambleton Racing XXXVI & Partner Archie Watson
Gustavus Weston (IRE) 6 9 8 Mr Alfred Sweetnam Joseph Murphy Ireland
Khaadem (IRE) 6 9 8 Mrs Fitri Hay Charles Hills
Kinross 5 9 8 Mr Marc Chan Ralph Beckett
Naval Crown 4 9 8 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
Alcohol Free (IRE) 4 9 5 Mr J. C. Smith Andrew Balding
Double Or Bubble (IRE) 5 9 5 Mr S Fustok Chris Wall
Happy Romance (IRE) 4 9 5 The McMurray Family Richard Hannon
Highfield Princess (FR) 5 9 5 Trainers House Enterprises Ltd John Quinn
Romantic Proposal (IRE) 6 9 5 Clipper Logistics Group Ltd Edward Lynam Ireland
Vadream 4 9 5 Mr D. R. J. King Charlie Fellowes
Ventura Diamond (IRE) 4 9 5 Middleham Park Racing XXVIII Richard Fahey
Cadamosto (IRE) 3 9 2 D.Smith,Mrs J.Magnier,M.Tabor,Westerberg Aidan O’Brien Ireland
King Hermes (JPN) 3 9 2 Hiroo Race Co. Ltd. Yoshito Yahagi Japan
New York City (IRE) 3 9 2 Westerberg/Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith Aidan O’Brien Ireland
Perfect Power (IRE) 3 9 2 Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum Richard Fahey
Twilight Jet (IRE) 3 9 2 M Iavarone/Julia Iavarone/M O’Callaghan Michael O’Callaghan Ireland
22 entries remain
5 Irish-trained
1 Australian-trained
1 Japanese-trained
THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: Art Power (IRE), Came From The Dark (IRE), Diligent Harry, Ejtilaab (IRE), Garrus (IRE), Great Ambassador, Home Affairs (AUS), Man of Promise (USA), Minzaal (IRE), Nahaarr (IRE), Nature Strip (AUS), Run To Freedom, Spycatcher (IRE), Campanelle (IRE), Chil Chil, Sacred, Umm Kulthum (IRE), Angel Bleu (FR), Castle Star (IRE) , Caturra (IRE), King of Bavaria (IRE), Lusail (IRE), Rizg, Sam Maximus, Space Cowboy (IRE), Tiber Flow (IRE), Wings of War (IRE), Flotus (IRE), Royal Aclaim (IRE)
The Jockey Club Release
