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Muwaary team worried about soft ground

3 minute read

Connections of Muwaary have aired concerns about the prospect of running on soft ground in the John Sunley Memorial Criterion Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Although the five-year-old has performed well with give underfoot in the past, there is a fear that conditions in the Group Three event on the July Course may be a touch too soft.

Despite having almost two years off through injury, the John Gosden-trained son of Oasis Dream made an encouraging return to action at York earlier this month when finishing third in a Listed event.

Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: "Muwaary ran a lovely race first time out back up at York as you don't know how they are going to run first time after a long layoff.

"Paul (Hanagan) said he was very keen early on and that he took a while to settle and that he probably had him too far back on the day.

"It was a fantastic run first time out and hopefully he can run well again, but I don't know whether he would want it this soft. We will just have to see."

Having won the seven-furlong race 12 months ago with Markaz ,the same owner will also be represented by the William Haggas-trained Adaay, who is bidding to turn the corner and leave two poor efforts this season behind.

Gold added: "Adaay has been a bit disappointing in his last two runs. I think his ability is still there. William's horses are starting to come back to form and hopefully we can get him back on track.

"He was a good horse last year and I think he still will be this year. I think seven furlongs certainly suits him and he should like the ground, so that's in his favour."

Richard Fahey is counting on a return to the track Birchwood claimed the Superlative Stakes on last year sparking a revival in his fortunes after turning in a below-par effort in the French 2000 Guineas.

He said: "Birchwood completely bombed out in France for no apparent reason, but we have been very happy with him since.

"We found no reason for his poor run - he did the same thing at Naas last season before winning the Superlative Stakes - but he came out of the race with no issues. We scoped him afterwards and everything was fine.

"He won over the same course and distance on quicker ground last year but ran well on a softer surface out at Keeneland, so I am hoping he might come good for us.

"He's come out of France fine. There's been nothing wrong with him, he's been working fine. We'll have to see.

"He's a course and distance winner. He gets in this race without a penalty but he has to bounce back."

Dark Emerald is set to make his first start since racing out in Meydan earlier in the year and although conditions will be in complete contrast, trainer Brendan Powell is not worried.

He said: "He came back from Dubai and had a long break. We gave him a small wind operation when he got back.

"He is working well and had a racecourse gallop at Newbury. He is in good form and it is a nice race to start him in.

"He has won on soft ground before so I think the ground will be fine for him. His main aim will be going back to Dubai again."

After collecting the Supreme Stakes at Goodwood last season, the David O'Meara-trained So Beloved will be attempting to claim a second Pattern race success of his career, and double his tally of wins for the term after landing a Listed event at Haydock last month.

O'Meara said: "So Beloved is well at the moment. He met a bit of traffic last time out at Haydock and was a shade unlucky not to finish a lot closer."