Turf Talk: Haggas keeping Sky Kingdom's Royal Ascot options open

NEWMARKET-based Yorkshireman William Haggas is to keep his options open as to which race Sky Kingdom will contest at Royal Ascot should he make it to the meeting.
William HaggasWilliam Haggas
William Haggas

After making a winning debut at Newmarket’s Craven meeting, the three-year-old was not disgraced in finishing third in a Listed contest at the track at the end of last month. Although the son of Montjeu was forced to miss an outing in the Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh, the Newmarket handler hopes to have him ready in time for a tilt at either the King Edward VII or the Tercentenary Stakes.

He said: “He is a lovely horse. I really wanted to run him in the Gallinule Stakes as that race was perfect for him, but he just had an issue which was really unfortunate. Hopefully he will now go to Ascot. He is owned by a very patient man, but we are keen to run him at Ascot if he is in good form.

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“He is in both the King Edward VII Stakes and the Tercentenary Stakes and a decision which race, if he goes there, will be made closer to the time.”

l Joseph O’Brien could have his first runners on Monday if, as expected, he is granted a training licence by the end of the week.

The dual Irish champion jockey has a meeting on Friday with the licence committee of the Irish Turf Club, who are expected to rubber stamp his application as O’Brien has already fulfilled the other necessary obligations.

Should that go through without a hitch, then the 23-year-old son of multiple champion trainer Aidan O’Brien, would be allowed to have horses run in his name on Monday with race meetings scheduled for Gowran Park and Listowel.

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“He will come up to licensing committee on Friday. They will interview him and I imagine they will sanction his licence,” said Turf Club press officer Cliff Noone. “They have already inspected his premises and they were found to be in perfect shape.”

SOBOT’S SELECTIONS

RIPON: 2.20 Dalton (next best), 2.50 Briyouni, 3.20 Count Montecristo, 3.50 Lat Hawill (treble), 4.20 Secret Clause, 4.50 HOUSE OF COMMONS (NAP), 5.20 Kip.

LINGFIELD: 2.10 Winning Bid, 2.40 Abaco Ridge, 3.10 Tigserin, 3.40 Tudor Icon, 4.10 Talent To Amuse, 4.40 Inke, 5.10 Dusty Raven, 5.45 Hint Of Grey.

HAMILTON: 2.00 Inglorious, 2.30 Perfect Words, 3.00 Birkdale, 3.30 Ingleby Spring, 4.00 All You, 4.30 Keene’s Point, 5.00 Hero’s Story.

KEMPTON: 5.40 Innoko, 6.10 Muntahaa, 6.40 Magnum. 7.10 Halinka, 7.40 Saeedan, 8.10 Jodies Jem, 8.40 Royal Reef, 9.10 Mutamid.

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