Australians Thriving Ahead Of Darley July Cup

King´s Stand Stakes hero Takeover Target and his compatriots Falkirk and Glamour Puss are reported to be in fine form ahead of a three-pronged Australian assault on the #360,000 Darley July Cup on Friday, July 14, at Newmarket´s July Course.

The trio will attempt to emulate Japanese runner Agnes World who is to date the only non-European-trained winner of the Darley July Cup, having taken the race in 2000.

Ben Janiak, assistant trainer to his father Joe Janiak, is looking forward to Takeover Target´s bid to become the first Australian-trained horse to win the prestigious Group One six-furlong contest, which is Europe´s richest sprint.

Janiak reported today: 'Takeover Target worked on the Al Bahathri this morning. He worked over 1,000 metres and he ran up the last 600. The horse felt good and he´s on track for the Darley July Cup.

'We´ll take him over to the course on Thursday morning to give him a look at the track and he´ll only do a bit of three-quarter work, but I´ll try and get him two looks at the track before race-day.'

The seven-year-old became the second Australian victor, after Choisir in 2003, of the Group Two King´s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, defeating 28 rivals with a blistering display of speed over five furlongs.

The Australian sprint champion turned out again four days later for the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes, running a respectable third behind Les Arcs over an extra furlong.

While Choisir pulled off a memorable Royal Ascot sprint double, he failed in his attempt to add the 2003 Darley July Cup, finishing runner-up to Oasis Dream, and Takeover Target´s connections are hopeful their charge can go one better.

Janiak commented: 'The King´s Stand was a good run but we thought he was a little bit under-done going into it, so he had a gut buster then and gave everything he had, which meant he was a little bit flat for the Golden Jubilee, and I believe that´s why he didn´t win.

'It was still a good effort in the Golden Jubilee. Jay (Ford) got off him and said he was gone probably 200 metres from the post but he just stuck to his guns and plugged away and ran a nice third.

'The Australian horses have thrived in the conditions over here, so we might even stay for the Nunthorpe Stakes at York but we´re not sure yet.'

Falkirk, a Group Two winner over his preferred trip of six furlongs in Australia, was only a length behind Takeover Target when fourth in the King´s Stand, and side-stepped his engagement in the Golden Jubilee.

Trainer Lee Freedman´s representative, Clinton Youngson, revealed today: 'Falkirk´s doing well at the moment and is working nicely. He´ll probably do a bit more on the Limekilns on Thursday and then we´ll give him a look at the track on Saturday. He´s enjoying the weather at the moment - it´s more like back home.

'He ran a good race in the King´s Stand but he´s much better over six furlongs. He would have a big chance so long as the track´s not too hard, that would be our main worry.'

The Danny O´Brien-trained Glamour Puss was a staying on fourth in the King´s Stand but failed to show her true running when six lengths 10th to Les Arcs in the Golden Jubilee.

The six-year-old mare had Takeover Target back in fourth when winning the Group One Seppelt Salinger Stakes over six furlongs at Flemington in October and could attempt to repeat that result at Newmarket if she continues to please her trainer.

O´ Brien reported today: 'She´s fit and well. She´ll have a gallop on Saturday morning and if I´m happy with her work she´ll go to the Darley July Cup and then we´ll head home.

'Quick ground wouldn´t be a problem for her.'

The Group One Darley July Cup is the feature event of the Newmarket July Course´s three-day July Festival, which takes place from Wednesday, July 12, to Friday, July 14.