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| Staff Writer |
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Following her Group Two breakthrough at the Curragh on Saturday, Believing is poised for a quick return to action at Goodwood next week.
After placing fourth in both Group One sprints at Royal Ascot last month, George Boughey’s swift runner achieved the most significant victory of her career so far on Irish Oaks weekend, clinching the Sapphire Stakes with ease under the guidance of Ryan Moore.
“It didn’t surprise me that she won as she did, she’d been training good at home and it was great to put that Group Two on her pedigree because I think she sort of deserved it,” said Boughey.
“It was a pretty uncomplicated ride and I was delighted to tick the box.
“She’s a pleasure to train, but it’s taken a while to get there. She’s a credit to my staff, who have worked incredibly hard. She’s never been straightforward and she’s now absolute bus really – we can put her on a box or a plane or a boat, wherever she wants to go.”
While a return to the Curragh for the Flying Five Stakes on September 15 is a primary goal for Believing, she is expected to have another race in the interim. The King George Qatar Stakes next Friday is seen as a likely target for her next outing.
Boughey added: “The plan for some time had been to go to Ireland to trial her before the Flying Five and she may well go to Goodwood in between. I saw her this morning and she was fresh and well and sound and off to Goodwood we go, I think.
“Keeping her to five furlongs and it’s a lot of money at Goodwood. I know she’d have to carry a penalty, but so would the Australian horse (Asfoora) and I wouldn’t swap her at Goodwood anyway.
“I think she has the speed for it. Ryan was of the opinion that she would and if Ryan’s happy I’m pretty happy.
“The draw is obviously very key there and we’ll be slightly in the lap of the gods on that front, but she showed loads of pace when she won the Achilles Stakes at Haydock earlier in the year and again at Ascot and again on Saturday, so we’d certainly be willing to give her a chance.”
Looking even further ahead, Believing could well be heading to California in November.
Boughey said: “The Breeders’ Cup Sprint is probably the end-of-season target.
“I think Glass Slippers won the Flying Five and ended up winning at the Breeders’ Cup, so it’s a race that feeds in quite well.”
Enfjaar is set to compete at the Qatar Goodwood Festival following his impressive victory in the John Smith’s Cup at York.
Although Roger Varian’s charge struggled after winning his first two races, a winter gelding operation seems to have revitalised him. After a successful return at Chelmsford last month, the 4YO dominated one of the season’s most competitive handicaps on the Knavesmire. Connections are now aiming for additional success in this class before potentially moving up in class later in the year.
“He’s on his way back physically and more importantly mentally – he’s a much happier horse in himself,” said Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell.
“He’s absolutely going the right way, so we’ve got to see where we go from here.
“Roger was talking in the immediate aftermath of a mile-and-a-quarter handicap at Goodwood, I think it’s on the opening day, and then if all goes well there, we can work our way up into Pattern class.”