McCreery up for Challenge at Newmarket Willie McCreery is hoping for a clear run for his filly Fiesolana when she tackles the Dubai Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. The four-year-old has enjoyed a great summer at home and races in Britain for the first time after proving unable to make her mark in Group One company in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown last time. Ahead of the Group Two contest, McCreery said: "The race didn't work out for us in the Matron. She got there too soon, through no fault of the jockey as she likes to get on with it, but I thought she ran well enough. "She's versatile in terms of the ground and is a very uncomplicated horse. Hopefully there won't be too many traffic problems as she's usually up with the pace anyway." Sabrina Harty will also cross the Irish Sea with Ansgar, a good second to Brendan Bracken in a Group Three last time out. "Ansgar is a big horse who has just kept growing over the years and eats like a monster. We have been delighted with him since his last run, he is in great form, very, very fresh, and the drop back to seven furlongs should suit him," said Harty. She warned, however, he does not want "dead ground" and added: "He is a genuine, gutsy horse with plenty of pace - he has a huge stride and likes to be able to use it." Godolphin's Lockwood was beaten by a good one last time in the Eddie Lynam-trained Viztoria, but Saeed bin Suroor's charge would prefer more give in the ground. Racing manager Simon Crisford said: "Lockwood is progressing along the right lines and has had a good campaign - he stepped up to a different level with his second place in the Park Stakes last time, it was a very good run. The softer the better for him." Aidan O'Brien runs the highly regarded Darwin, who is out to make amends after finishing third in Brendan Brackan's Curragh race last time when sent off the odds-on favourite.
