Alec Laird at Abington Place (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Speaking from Abington Place on Wednesday, 21 September 2016, Smart Call’s trainer Alec Laird confirmed that it will be a ‘proudly South African’ effort in the Sun Chariot Stakes next Saturday with Anthony Delpech engaged to ride the daughter of Ideal World on her UK debut.
2016 Gr1 J&B Met winner Smart Call qualified for the Breeders’ Cup on the ‘Win And You’re In’ initiative by winning the 2016 Gr1 Paddock Stakes on 9 January. Smart Call entered quarantine and set off on her travels shortly after her 2016 Gr1 Met triumph on 30 January and arrived in Newmarket in late June to start her prep campaign.
She will be contesting the Gr1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, 1 October 2016, before heading to the USA for the Breeders’ Cup festival in November.
Prep
Alec explained, “Frankie Dettori has been doing a lot of prep work on her and would like to have taken the ride next Saturday, but he has other contracts to fulfil. In terms of the Breeders’ Cup engagement, again Frankie would like to ride, but it will depend on his other contractual engagements and he is unable to confirm at this stage, so we’re grateful that Anthony can ride next Saturday and get the chance to know her in a race.”
“In terms of her prep, she has done quite well and has come through it without a hiccup, thank goodness. With the time constraints, we didn’t have a week to spare. It’s been a balance of asking her for an effort, without hurting her so I think she’ll be ready for a fair run, but we’re hoping it will bring her on for the Breeders’ Cup.”
“It’s very exciting. The weather is looking good. The tracks are firm, but we’ve had a steady, light rain and they will water the track if we don’t get enough rain, so the going will be good.”
Anthony Delpech
Anthony Delpech (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Anthony Delpech is understandably thrilled with the booking. “I got the call yesterday afternoon. I never had the chance to ride Smart Call in South Africa, but Mary and Jessica (Slack) are my sponsors and it will be the first time I’ll be riding in England, so I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve been to Newmarket before on holiday, but have never been to a race meeting in England. I’ll obviously need to walk the course and find out a bit about it, so I arrive next Wednesday afternoon and will most probably give her a sprint up on Thursday and then we race on Saturday. It’s intended to bring her on for the Breeders’ Cup, but Frankie is very happy with her and if she’s good enough to win, so be it.”
The Race
It is shaping up into a top class, international affair with six of the entries already Group 1 winners and half the possible contenders hailing from outside Britain. After scratchings on Tuesday, a total of 20 fillies and mares remain engaged in this £250,000 event with the remaining entries comprising Always Smile (IRE), Amazing Maria (IRE), Arabian Queen (IRE), Creggs Pipes (IRE), Ervedya (FR), Irish Rookie (IRE), Siyoushake (IRE), Smart Call (SAF), Alice Springs (IRE), Epsom Icon (GB), Hawksmoor (IRE), Minding (IRE), Mise En Rose (USA), Nathra (IRE), Nemoralia (USA), Persuasive (IRE), Spectre (FR), Trixia (FR), Turret Rocks (IRE), Volta (FR).
