Fast! The brilliant Shea Shea aims to break De Kock’s UK Gr1 duck today
A red letter day for Mike De Kock and Frankie Dettori? A win for champion SA sprinter Shea Shea in the Gr1 Coomore Nunthorpe Stakes run over 1000m at York this afternoon could well produce headline news across the international racing world.
For all of his international success, De Kock has astonishingly never won a Gr1 race in the UK. For Dettori, a win in the prestigious sprint would mean a maiden Gr1 victory since his departure from Godolphin.
Shea Shea is reported to be fit and well for today’s race and assistant trainer Steven Jell commented: “I’d say he looks even better than before his last start in the July Cup. Frankie Dettori worked him last week and popped in yesterday morning to see how his mount was doing.
“The track is flat and fast and that will suit Shea Shea. We’re drawn 5 with a lot of speed around us.”
Mike de Kock said yesterday that he was happy with Shea Shea and was holding thumbs to finally win a Gr1 race in the UK.
“He’s not an easy ride though, he’s a difficult customer and it takes time to get to know him. Frankie Dettori has ridden Shea Shea in work once, I’m hoping that will prove to be enough. Fortunately we’re talking about Frankie here, he’s a legend, he’s fired up and excited about the race and Shea Shea couldn’t be in more capable hands.”
Shea Shea has been knocking at the door in both his starts since his record breaking win in the Al Quoz sprint in Dubai, finishing second to Sole Power at Ascot and fourth to Lethal Force at Newmarket.
Sole Power, who will be ridden by Johnny Murtagh, won the Nunthorpe as a three year-old in 2010, but had to wait until the King’s Stand for another win at this level. Both are drawn low in contrast to Moviesta who is drawn high.
Frankie Dettori. Rides Shea Shea
Reasonably regular successes for three year-olds and, more importantly, an almost guaranteed fierce pace give Bryan Smart’s progressive Moviesta an outstanding chance of following up after an impressive length-and-a-half win over Swiss Spirit in the King George Stakes at Goodwood last time.
Victory for the colt would give part-owner, QPR manager Harry Redknapp, his biggest win on a racecourse and his trainer Bryan Smart a first domestic Gr 1.
Key to the horse’s improvement last time was the pace of the race. Instead of pulling like a train, a trait which has cost him twice in valuable handicaps this term, he was much more settled in the early stages.
Instead of being out on his feet at the finish Paul Mulrennan found him full of running and finally expending energy at the right end of a race. “He’s in great order,” confirmed the jockey who last sat on the Hard Spun gelding last Friday. “He’s come out of Goodwood very well and it should be perfect for him; a quick track on which he already has smart form. It’s a speed track and he’s all speed.
“At Goodwood I missed the break deliberately and they went that fast I was able to switch him off. Take the top two (Shea Shea and Sole Power) out of it and I’m on the favourite. Even with them in the race I would not swap him.”
The race is scheduled for 16h40 (SA time) today and will be shown live on Tellytrack.
