Sport

Kazzia to take on Islington at York

RACING: Godolphin's dual Classic winner Kazzia pleased connections when working on the Newmarket gallops yesterday and is now…

Wed Aug 14 2002 - 01:00

RACING: Godolphin's dual Classic winner Kazzia pleased connections when working on the Newmarket gallops yesterday and is now on course for a mouth-watering clash with impressive Goodwood winner Islington in next Wednesday's Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks.

After watching the filly work over seven furlongs with Divine Task and Cunas in the hands of Frankie Dettori, trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "We are happy with Kazzia and the way she worked this morning. She moved really well and is ready for the Yorkshire Oaks."

Kazzia has already won the Sagitta 1,000 Guineas and Vodafone Oaks this season and could bid for the Rothmans Royals St Leger at Doncaster next month to become the first horse to complete the fillies' Triple Crown since Oh So Sharp in 1985.

Another outstanding York clash was also confirmed yesterday with the news that Nayef was firmly "on target" for a re-match with Golan.

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And Marcus Tregoning is full of hope his colt can turn the tables on the narrow King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes winner when the pair clash again in the Juddmonte International Stakes.

"I am looking forward to it and I hope we can win this time," the trainer said.

"He is on target for the race and I think this mile-and-a-quarter trip will suit him better than Golan."

Tregoning is also eagerly awaiting Dominica's return to action in the Victor Chandler Nunthorpe Stakes at York a week tomorrow.

His King's Stand Stakes winner missed an engagement in the King George Stakes at Goodwood.

But the trainer said: "We were wrong at the weights there and though we might have won I didn't think she could go there and come here as well."

Sidelined jump jockey Joe Tizzard hopes to start riding out in November. He is making good progress after the serious spinal injury he suffered in a fall at Hereford in March.

"I dislocated two vertebrae and fractured them so they put two bars down either side of the spine and took a bone graft off my hip," he said."So there are two rods and eight screws holding it all in place until the bone graft is strong enough to take it itself."

Tizzard is hoping to resume race-riding by Christmas time but he stressed: "I haven't set a date, I will see how it goes."