Warrsan a Diamond sparkler
Warrsan showed he is on course for a third crack at the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes later this month by pleasing connections in a searching racecourse gallop today.
The seven-year-old worked a mile and a quarter with three-year-old stable companions Bahar Shumaal and Mina A Salem on the Polytrack surface at Lingfield.
Now trainer Clive Brittain cannot wait for Saturday week, when his veteran campaigner goes for the summer middle-distance championship race.
“They went a very brisk pace with Warrsan last of the three in the early stages. Then he came down the outside and fairly scorched up the straight. It was a joy to see him skip off the ground,” said an elated Brittain.
Warrsan’s two previous King George bids have ended in disappointment, with him finishing sixth to Alamshar in 2003 and ninth behind Doyen last season.
Brittain believes the switch to Newbury from Ascot for the Group One contest this year will help his charge.
“Ascot has never been his course so I’m pleased the race is at Newbury this year. It suits him much better and he is a proven performer there,” he said.
The son of Caerleon, a Group Three winner at Newbury two seasons ago, has three Group One successes to his credit. However, he has yet to score this term and was fifth to Azamour in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot at York on his latest start.
“People underestimate him at their peril. They did before the Eclipse last year and he proved them wrong by almost pulling it off,” added Brittain of Warrsan, who is a best-priced 40-1 for the King George.
While Warrsan showed he was ready for action, the Newmarket trainer believes Irish Derby fifth Bahar Shumaal will need another workout before his next run.
He is therefore unlikely to send the son of Dubai Millennium to Newbury on Saturday for the Listed David Wilson Homes Steventon Stakes.
“He probably won’t go to Newbury. I took it a little easy with him after the Irish Derby, which I always do with my horses when they’ve been in a big race,” he said.
“He’s done plenty of walking and some cantering since, but I wanted to see his level of fitness. He was blowing after the gallop today and he will need another one before he runs again.”
Brittain is also in no rush with Mina A Salem, the third horse who took part in today’s workout.
The Singspiel colt, named after a hotel in Dubai, was last of five to Rocamadour in a Listed race at Newmarket in April on his only outing so far.
“He had trouble going in the stalls that day. He was given a slip, which I thought was a little unfair, and has had to pass a stalls test. He’s done that no problem and will be a force to be reckoned with later in the season,” he added.
