148-Strong Entry Received For Blue Square Stewards' Cup A terrific 148-strong entry - 19 more than in 2006 - has been received for the £100,000 Blue Square Stewards' Cup, run over six furlongs on Saturday, August 4, the final day of Glorious Goodwood 2007. The ultra-competitive sprint, which has a safety limit of 28 runners, is one of the most valuable contests of its type in the calendar and regularly features horses that have been or go on to be successful at Group level.Blue Square, for the first time, backs all seven races programmed for Saturday, August 4, having previously, most notably, sponsored the inaugural Shergar Cup held at Goodwood in 1999.The Blue Square Stewards' Cup shares the limelight on the day with the £200,000 Blue Square Nassau Stakes, the Group One race for fillies and mares over 10 furlongs.David Nicholls has landed the Blue Square Stewards' Cup twice in the past seven years and is responsible for 19 entries in total. They include 2005 victor Gift Horse, dual Group Three scorer Peace Offering and old favourite Continent, who recorded a Group One double in 2002 in the July Cup and Prix de l'Abbaye. Dark Missile recorded the biggest success of her career when landing the Wokingham Handicap on June 23 by a neck from Intrepid Jack, with Balthazaar's Gift in third and Something in fourth. All four could reoppose, along with a whole host of other runners from the Royal Ascot race.Kevin Ryan has made nine entries, headed by last year's second Mutamared, and progressive four-year-old King Orchisios, who won a Listed race at Lingfield in March.Successful with Superior Premium in 1998, Richard Fahey has eight entries this year, including Fonthill Road, runner-up to Gift Horse in 2005 and winner of the 2006 Ayr Gold Cup.Borderlescott provided Robin Bastiman with the biggest success in his training career when landing the Blue Square Stewards' Cup last year, and looks set for a repeat bid, having run very well when eighth in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on his most recent appearance.David Barron claimed the prize in 1994 with For The Present and again two years later with future Group One Nunthorpe Stakes hero Coastal Bluff. His four entries include the progressive How's She Cuttin', successful on two of her three outings this term. Richard Hannon, looking for his third victory in the Blue Square Stewards' Cup after Knight Of Mercy (1990) and Notley (1991), has four entries, among them Song Of Passion, impressive dropped back to six furlongs in a competitive event at Epsom on Derby Day.Sierra Vista, who took her form to new level with victory in the Group Two Temple Stakes at Sandown on May 31, and Listed winner Mecca's Mate are entered for the David Barker stable.Milton Bradley's four-strong entry features 10-year-old The Tatling, a top-class Group Two-winning sprinter at his best, Luca Cumnai is now the man plotting the career of 2006 Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes runner-up Balthazaar's Gift, while Ashdown Express is not the most frequent winner but has been a grand servant to Chris Wall, who took the Blue Square Stewards' Cup in 1988 with Rotherfield Greys.Firenze was beaten just half a length in last year's renewal and ran respectably when ninth in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. She is entered for James Fanshawe along with the lightly-raced duo Zidane, seventh last time in the Wokingham Handciap and Cape.The Stuart Williams-trained Hogmaneigh showed a fine burst of speed to lift the Vodafone 'Dash' at Epsom on June 2, and Aegean Dancer, representing Bryan Smart who sent out Bond Boy to score in 2002, looked a sprinter on the up when taking the Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh on June 9.Irish-based trainer Ger Lyons has entered four-year-old filly That's Hot, runner-up to Liscanna in the Group Three Ballyogan Stakes at Leopardstown on June 6. Rod Fabricius, Goodwood's Managing Director, commented: 'In Blue Square - the Festival's new Saturday sponsor - we have an exciting and cutting edge partner. 'We look forward to a long and successful relationship, so important to guaranteeing the future success of one of the most exciting day's racing in the flat racing calendar.'The fabulous entry for the Blue Square Stewards' Cup is a great start and means that demand for places in the final line-up will be even greater.'The weights for the Blue Square Stewards' Cup are revealed on Wednesday, July 4.
