Smart Hoping Maze Has Champagne Sparkle

Bryan Smart´s Royal Ascot winner Maze is having a well-earned break before being trained for an ambitious autumn campaign.

The Hambleton trainer has his eyes on two big two-year-old prizes at Doncaster, the Champagne Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy, for the Chesham Stakes victor.

'He´s having a holiday. He looks great and he´s come out of the race really well. I couldn´t be more pleased with him,' said Smart.

'He´ll probably go for the Champagne and then later on the Racing Post Trophy if he runs well in the Champagne.

'He wouldn´t want the ground to be too soft and he´s a nice horse.'

Smart also revealed that Hellvelyn, winner of last year´s Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot will work tomorrow ahead of a possible tilt at the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Friday week.

The colt has been suffering from a bruised foot which has meant a delay to his three-year-old debut.

He has not raced since finishing fourth in the Middle Park Stakes last autumn.

'He´s in good form and he´s in the July Cup,' said the Hambleton trainer.

'He´s working tomorrow. His foot played him up again after his racecourse gallop. The foot is cold and we´ll gallop tomorrow and see where we are.

'He bruised it. It´s been deep-seated and we just haven´t been able to get rid of it. We´ve had ice, Jacuzzi ? you name it ? and now it´s looking good.'

(C) PA Sport