Most International and most competitive spint ever run in Europe?

The £250,000 Darley July Cup (Group 1), highlight of the last day of the July Meeting at Newmarket next Thursday (8th July), looks set to be arguably the most international and most competitive sprint ever run in Europe with likely runners from Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and the USA, as well as France, Ireland and Britain.

This morning SEEKING THE DIA, trained in Japan by Hideyuki Mori, worked very well on the July Course ahead of his bid to follow in the footsteps of Agnes World, who won the Darley July Cup for Mori in 2000. Travelling companion, DORUBAKO, also worked and holds an entry in the race as well.

This morning also, trainer David Oughton confirmed that his challenger from Hong Kong, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, will run in the six-furlong Darley July Cup. Having finished second in the King´s Stand Stakes (Group 2) and third in the Golden Jubilee (Group 1) at Royal Ascot, connections had been considering missing Newmarket in favour of a step down in class to the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood later this month. The Darley July Cup is now firmly back on the agenda, however, and transport has been arranged to bring the gelding to Newmarket next week.

Meanwhile the big Australian hope, EXCEED AND EXCEL, is expected to work on the Al Bahathri gallop on Saturday morning. Connections remain hopeful that their champion will be ready in time for next Thursday´s race following the poor blood count which ruled him out of Royal Ascot. The four year-old will be looking to go one better than the only previous Australian challenger, Choisir, managed in the race when runner-up 12 months ago.

LYDGATE, trained by Eoin Harty in the USA, completes the impressive line-up of inter-continental challengers. The four-year-old had no luck in running in the King´s Stand Stakes and his trainer, who had a flying visit to Newmarket earlier this week to check on his colt´s well-being, expects him to appreciate the step-up in trip to six furlongs at Newmarket. LYDGATE made a brief visit to the July Course on Tuesday to get himself acquainted with the parade ring there.

The best sprinters in Europe are ready take on the overseas challengers. From France, Yves de Nicolay today confirmed that his Prix du Gros-Chene (Group 2) runner-up, PORLEZZA, will run, while the Golden Jubilee runner-up, CRYSTAL CASTLE, could also be in the line-up for trainer John Hammond. From Ireland, Aidan O´Brien seems likely to saddle his highly talented St James´s Palace Stakes (Group 1) third, ANTONIUS PIUS, the subject of a lot of money in the ante-post market last week.

All Britain´s top sprinters are entered in the race. Roger Charlton would not want the ground too fast for PATAVELLIAN, brilliant winner of the Prix de l´Abbaye (Group 1) at the end of last season and who also won the Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup on Darley July Cup Day last year, but AVONBRIDGE, who won the Prix du Gros-Chene (Group 2) and was fifth in the Golden Jubilee, would be an able deputy.

FAYR JAG, who won the Golden Jubilee, FRIZZANTE, a fast-finishing third in the King´s Stand, KHELEYF, the impressive Jersey Stakes (Group 3) winner, AIRWAVE, who was a fine third in last year´s Darley July Cup, and BALMONT, one of last season´s top two-year-olds, are others to take the eye.

'This has all the hallmarks of being a phenomenal race and I cannot tell you how excited about it everyone is here,' commented Newmarket´s Clerk of the Course, Michael Prosser.

'To have likely runners from four different countries outside Europe in one race at Newmarket is unheard of and I doubt whether any other track in Europe has matched that in the past.

'With Attraction the star of the show on Tuesday and a great card on Wednesday as well, the £1m three-day July Meeting is going to be something very special next week!'

Going and weather update

The going on the July Course is currently GOOD-TO-FIRM, but showers, some likely to be heavy, are forecast for this afternoon, tomorrow and through the weekend.

Michael Prosser said: 'With the forecast as it is, we currently have no intention to water. I would much prefer to leave it to ´mother nature´. The track is in very good shape with a great covering of grass.'