UK: Afsare In Running For QEII Bid

Afsare may be supplemented for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot should he continue his winning ways in the Joel Stakes at Newmarket on September 27.

The HQ Group Two is the next port of call for the Luca Cumani-trained six-year-old, who appears to have overcome an aversion to the stalls with victories in Salisbury's Sovereign Stakes and the Betfred Celebration Mile at Goodwood on his last two starts.

"There was some uncertainty we suppose about just what Afsare achieved at Salisbury, but his Celebration Mile win proved he has really developed into a potent force over a mile, all of a sudden developing a lot of speed," reported trainer Luca Cumani's website.

"His next race will be the Joel Stakes at Newmarket. Ideally we would like to aim for bigger prizes abroad - the Woodbine Mile or the Shadwell Turf Mile for example - but he takes some knowing and foreign jurisdictions don't allow anyone other than their own stalls handlers to put horses into the stalls.

"If Afsare wins the Joel Stakes in good style we will have to think seriously about supplementing him for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

"He would probably be almost as effective at seven furlongs but there's not a suitable opportunity at that distance over here between now and the end of the season with the exception of the Challenge Stakes."

Mount Athos failed by just a head to give the Cumani team a big-race double at Goodwood on Saturday, but he is still set to have a second crack at the Melbourne Cup after finishing fifth last November.

"Mount Athos remains on course for the Melbourne Cup after his excellent effort at Goodwood on Saturday where he just failed to concede 5lb to Harris Tweed in a very tactical affair," said www.lucacumani.com.

"We had thought of putting him away for Melbourne after his run at the big summer meeting there earlier there in the month, but though we could excuse that effort we just wanted to see some concrete confirmation on the racecourse that he is still in top form. We're glad to report he is and it is next stop Flemington."

Cumani plans to have at least two runners in the Betfred Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on September 28, a race he last won in 1986 with Dallas.

"Gabrial The Great has the Cambridgeshire as his autumn target, which is a race we might have more than one representative in with Validus another likely sort for that race," he said.


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