Eddie Lynam famously enjoyed Darley July Cup glory with Slade Power a year ago and the Co Meath-based trainer believes it is well worthwhile taking another shot at Newmarket’s Group One highlight with his star three-year-old filly Anthem Alexander on Saturday week.
No three-year-old filly has won the July Cup since Habibti in 1983 but it says something of the regard Anthem Alexander is held in that her recent Royal Ascot third to Muhaarar in the Commonwealth Cup appeared to leave connections comparatively deflated.
The 2014 Queen Mary winner travelled supremely well through that six furlong event but ultimately came up short behind the winner and the runner-up Limato.
Tackling the July Cup will involve racing against older horses for the first time but Lynam remains convinced a Group One is within Anthem Alexander’s capabilities.
“I don’t know what to make of her Royal Ascot run. She travelled like the best horse in the race, she was the last off the bridle, and I thought she was coming to win the race. But I don’t know what happened after that.
“But she’s a Group Two and Group Three winner who’s been second and third in Group One’s so we will definitely try and win a Group One with her.
Tweak the tactics
“She’ll have the Australian horse (Brazen Beau) and Charlie Hills’ horse, Muhaarar, and all the top sprinters to beat in the July Cup but we might tweak the tactics a little bit and let her take her chance at Newmarket,” he said.
Anthem Alexander could be joined in the July Cup by her illustrious stable companion Sole Power who famously has never won over six furlongs during the course of a stalwart career.
Ireland’s reigning Horse of the Year failed in his hat-trick attempt in the King Stand Stakes but Lynam said: “If the ground comes up lightning quick he would run in the July Cup too. His Derby now is the Nunthorpe but he needs races to keep him ticking over and he ran well in the race a couple of years ago when he was unlucky.”
The trainer conceded it looks like he will have to draw stumps on getting a run into his other high class three-year-old filly Agnes Stewart this season.
Last season’s May Hill winner, and Group One runner-up, has had an injury-plagued 2015 and Lynan said: “Agnes has gone wrong again and I’d say it’s unlikely she’ll be able to run this year. It’s devastating but we will now look at a four-year-old campaign with her.”
Iron Major is hardly one of Lynam’s star performers but the admirable eight-year-old is set for a 71st career start at Fairyhouse this evening and could wind up with a tenth success in the seven furlong claimer.
“He’s a grand horse who usually wins one race every year. Unfortunately he’s already won this year – but you never know.” Iron Major won at Dundalk in April but he ran well after a slow start in the Curragh handicap won by Have A Nice Day just last Sunday and will have Pat Smullen’s assistance this time.
Champion jockey teams
Smullen will be in opposition to Lynam in the following three-year-old maiden where the champion jockey teams up with Tadaany for Dermot Weld and the 80-rated Captain Power will again be ridden by Robbie Downey.
Lynam looked to have secured an ideal winning opportunity for Captain Power at Naas last week but the horse didn’t look to help Downey too much in the closing stages.
Gun Shoot won a recent claimer at Sligo so easily she did a lap of the track afterwards to celebrate. Pat Martin’s runner needs to settle to be at her best but comes to the ten furlong handicap as a course and distance winner and off a 3lb lower mark compared with that win last July.
In other July Cup news, James Doyle will team up for the first time with Godolphin’s new purchase Brazen Beau in the Newmarket feature. “He’s got a great temperament and is really relaxed,” Doyle said.
