Cheveley Park: Mark Johnston has high hopes for Threading
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
By Racinguk.com staff
Mark Johnston has high hopes Threading can maintain her unbeaten record in Saturday's Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.
An impressive winner on her debut at Goodwood when bolting up by six lengths, the daughter of Exceed And Excel took another step forward to win the Lowther Stakes at York.
Both of those victories came with plenty of cut in the ground so the Middleham handler has no worries at all on that score and she is a best-priced 4-1.
"Threading is very well and this race has long been her target. She has only had two races in her life, so is anything but exposed," said Johnston.
"We know that she will handle the current (good to soft) conditions as she has won both her races with some cut in the ground, but there is nothing to say that she needs it soft.
"Her pedigree suggests she may be better suited by a faster surface and I am never one to pigeonhole a horse after just two starts.
doncaster
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"We will get this race out of the way before we start thinking about stepping her up in trip. At the moment there is no reason why she won't stay a mile next year and I see her as a Classic filly for 2018."
One horse who is stepping up in trip is Clive Cox's speedy filly Heartache.
She beat Wesley Ward's American speedster Happy Like A Fool in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot on fast ground, before picking up an injury when beaten in the Prix Robert Papin.
After a short break, she returned to win the Flying Childers at Doncaster - but soft ground and an extra furlong are causes for concern.
"I am very pleased to report that Heartache has come back 100 per cent from the Flying Childers. She is in tremendous form," said Cox
Heartache may not run if there is overnight rain on the Rowley Mile (FocusInRacing)
"I think and hope that the step up to six furlongs will be within her boundaries. I am hopeful the course does not get too much rain before Saturday. My main concern is the forecast.
"She's more at home on a sound surface so going the extra furlong on soft ground would be the concern.
"Heartache is clearly very classy and, as a very well-balanced filly, I hope that she will handle the course well.
"Adam Kirby missed out as he was unable to do the weight in the Flying Childers but will be back on board on Saturday."
Aidan O'Brien's Clemmie has not been seen since beating Nyaleti in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes in early July.
perth
17:10 Perth - Wednesday July 5
The full-sister to Churchill was a non-runner in the Moyglare on account of the heavy ground and O'Brien does not want to see much rain.
"She's in good form. She had a little break and we're happy with her. We don't want much rain," said O'Brien.
Different League was another Royal Ascot winner in the Albany for Matthieu Palussiere and she ran a fine race to finish third in the Prix Morny behind Unfortunately.
"All has been going well since the Morny," said Palussiere.
"It was a very good run against the colts. She's got the big black type already, won a Group Two and placed in a Group One so we've nothing to lose by running her.
"You'd have to be delighted with what she's done, it's all a bonus now.
"She won her first race on soft and is a powerful filly so I'm not worried about the ground."
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