Art Master On Course For Racing Post Trophy

Upper Lambourn handler Sylvester Kirk is hoping to finish 2007 with a flourish by saddling the progressive Art Master in the £200,000 Racing Post Trophy, the final Group One race of the British Flat season, run over a mile at Doncaster on Saturday, October 27.

The son of Peintre Celebre, who broke his maiden tag with a ready three-length success on soft going at Leicester in July, failed to get competitive on quicker ground behind subsequent Group Two Urban-i Champagne Stakes victor McCartney in a mile Listed contest at Salisbury the following month, but got back to winning ways on the Polytrack at Kempton on October 6, with a decisive victory in a mile conditions event.

Sylvester Kirk revealed today: 'The plan is to take Art Master to Doncaster for the Racing Post Trophy and hopefully we will get soft ground up there. His level of form may not be quite good enough for the race, but we're hoping with suitable conditions it will be a big help.

'He did it very well at Kempton. They went a strong pace and he picked up well to score by a couple of lengths, going away at the end. He has come out of the race very well and is in good form.

'At Salisbury he didn't run his race and we are putting that down to the fast ground. He was very free and that wasn't his form. He won very nicely at Leicester on soft ground and that is what he wants. Art Master is a strong and very clean-winded horse and I think there is the potential for plenty of improvement with him.'

Kirk has three entries remaining in the Racing Post Trophy after the latest forfeit stage, although explained that Art Master was likely to be his sole runner in the Group One contest later this month.

He continued: 'Ramona Chase unfortunately clipped heels and came down last time. He's in great form now though and runs at the weekend, but he probably won't go for the Racing Post Trophy. Opera Prince is a well-related sort and will go for a maiden next.'

A total of 63 horses went forward after the latest forfeit stage for the Racing Post Trophy, including the unbeaten Raven's Pass, who slammed subsequent Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes victor City Leader by seven lengths in the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown on September 1.

Winker Watson, winner of all three starts this year, is one of nine remaining entries for Peter Chapple-Hyam, while the Jessica Harrington-trained Curtain Call has been confirmed as heading for the Racing Post Trophy, and is one of 19 Irish-trained entries still engaged.