Wokingham Winner, Dandy Boy, a possible for July Cup
He would have to be supplemented at a cost of a whopping £30,000, but connections of recent Wokingham Handicap winner, Dandy Boy, are seriously thinking of stumping up the cash, and having a crack at the big boys in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket, on July 12, writes Elliot Slater.
The Italian-bred entire put up a fine performance at Royal Ascot, last month, where he carried a hefty 9st 8lbs to success in one of the most competitive sprint handicaps of the season, storming clear of the group on the far side of the track to defeat Waffle (the winner of the race on the stands side), by a length-and-a-quarter.
With his handicap mark having been raised to a level (113) that would make it difficult to score again in that grade, trainer, David Marnane, is wondering if now is the right time to step up in class, and tackle the best six furlong performers around, while his charge appears to be in the form of his life.
On official figures, the son of Danetime is now rated just 5lbs inferior to the 3/1 ante-post favourite Bated Breath, the Roger Charlton-trained horse who won the Group 2 Temple Stakes in good style in May, before coming home second in the King’s Stand Stakes to Hong Kong flyer, Little Bridge.
Marnane’s rising star would be far from a forlorn hope in the great odds on racing at Bet Victor, should connections decide to dig deep and pitch Dandy Boy in against established pattern race performers.
Although he believes his recent Royal Ascot winner would give a good account of himself, Marnane is fully aware of the big step up in grade that faces his horse, and the final decision on whether or not he will be supplemented for the £400,000 contest will rest with the sprinter’s owner, Malih Lahej al Basteh.
