Aug 2014
2013 winner Gregorian among 17 set for Betfred Hungerford Stakes
A bumper field of 17 could line up for the Betfred Hungerford Stakes at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday with last year’s winner Gregorian among the entries for the Group 2 contest.
Gregorian, who was only 10th of 14 when fancied for the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday, could make amends by becoming the first dual-Hungerford winner since Jimmy Reppin in 1969. Aljamaheer, a late withdrawal from the Prix Maurice de Gheest, may also line up.
Richard Hannon, whose father Richard Snr won this showpiece three times, has entered three with last season’s champion juvenile Toormore the star name. Producer and Professor are the others from the stable.
Toormore’s recent conqueror at Goodwood, Es Que Love, is engaged, as is Marco Botti’s Summer Mile winner Guest Of Honour, and Godolphin’s Tawhid.
Red Evie in 2007 was the last female to win the seven-furlong race and three fillies could try and emulate her ─ Muteela, who lost her unbeaten record at Goodwood on her last start, Kiyoshi and Al Thakhira.
Hughie Morrison’s Chil The Kite is one of five previous Newbury winners in the Hungerford line-up.
The Betfred TV Geoffrey Freer Stakes is shaping up to be strong race with leading St Leger hopes Hartnell, Kings Fete and Kingston Hill all featuring among 19 entries for the one-mile-five-furlong contest. Coral-Eclipse second Somewhat, recent Group winners Pether’s Moon and Sheikhzayedroad, and two-time Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeux, second in this race last year, are other big names in the mix.
Newbury’s Julian Thick said: “Both the Betfred Hungerford Stakes and the Betfred TV Geoffrey Freer Stakes have attracted excellent entries with multiple Group race winners in each one.
“We’re delighted to see Gregorian among the entries for the former as he bids to become only the second horse to win the race twice, and all eyes will be on the Geoffrey Freer Stakes looking for St Leger clues.”
Race Details for 15:50BETFRED HUNGERFORD STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2) (45961), at NEWBURY on 16/08/2014 | |||
Horse | Weight | Owner | Trainer |
Guest of Honour (IRE) | 9 7 | Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock | Marco Botti |
Aljamaaheer (IRE) | 9 5 | Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum | Roger Varian |
Breton Rock (IRE) | 9 5 | Mr John Cook | David Simcock |
Chil The Kite (GB) | 9 5 | Hazel Lawrence & Graham Doyle | Hughie Morrison |
Es Que Love (IRE) | 9 5 | The Es Que Love Partnership | Clive Cox |
Glory Awaits (IRE) | 9 5 | Ahmad Abdulla Al Shaikh & Co | Kevin Ryan |
Gregorian (IRE) | 9 5 | H. R. H. Princess Haya of Jordan | John Gosden |
Producer (GB) | 9 5 | Mr J. Palmer-Brown | Richard Hannon |
Professor (GB) | 9 5 | Mrs P. Good | Richard Hannon |
Santefisio (GB) | 9 5 | Weldspec Glasgow Limited | Keith Dalgleish |
Tawhid (GB) | 9 5 | Godolphin | Saeed bin Suroor |
Brazos (IRE) | 9 0 | Mr Saeed Manana | Clive Brittain |
Toormore (IRE) | 9 0 | Middleham Park Racing IX & James Pak | Richard Hannon |
Yuften (GB) | 9 0 | Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar | William Haggas |
Al Thakhira (GB) | 8 11 | Al Shaqab Racing | Marco Botti |
Kiyoshi (GB) | 8 11 | Qatar Racing Limited | Charles Hills |
Muteela (GB) | 8 11 | Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum | Mark Johnston |