Goldie in upbeat mood as top sprinter prepares for glory bid

Wednesday 19 September 2012

The good people at Ayr will be putting the finishing touches to this and that as they prepare to open the door for their biggest meeting of the Flat season.

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White and Gold

It is Ayr Gold Cup week and excitement is mounting at Scotland's premier course.

Local trainer Jim Goldie believed that he would be standing in the winner's enclosure 12 months ago after the richest sprint handicap in Europe, but his excellent Hawkeyethenoo's chance became rather stuck in the mud and the Gold Cup went to Our Jonathan.

This year, the Uplawmoor trainer has his fingers crossed for decent ground which would boost Hawkeyethenoo's prospects of completing the Stewards' Cup/Ayr Gold Cup double.Goldie felt the ground cost Hawkeyethenoo his chance 12 months ago when he could finish only 10th to Our Jonathan."He ran well in very soft ground in the July Cup and was fifth in the Group 1 and I think he's stronger this year," said Goldie. "He didn't like it last year and, hopefully, it will be quicker than it was last year. I'd prefer good, good to soft, but it will be what it is."You need everything in your favour to win a race like that and the ground will be the key to whether we win it or not. It's been a very wet year and it would be nice to get some good ground, but I doubt we are going to get it."Graham [Lee, jockey] gets on very well with the horse and the Stewards' Cup was the career high on the Flat for him and a career high for myself. He's a very talented horse."Elsewhere, apprentice rider Mark Enright is likely to be given the mount on top weight Maarek on Saturday. The five-year-old picked up a 5lb penalty in winning a Group 3 at the Curragh at the weekend, beating multiple Group 1 winner Starspangledbanner.That leaves him with 10st but Irish trainer David Nagle is keen to ease the burden with the help of useful 5lb claimer Mark Enright. "If it comes up soft enough, we will run," said Nagle. "He's in good form and there's no other suitable race until Ascot on October 20. I can't see any reason not to run."I'll probably claim off him and Mark Enright will probably ride. He's been on the go a long time, he ran on the first day of the season at the Curragh, but he's holding his form brilliantly.."Finally, trainer Jamie Osborne hopes Face The Problem will make the cut. He needs several horses above him to come out for him to get a place in the maximum 27-strong field.Osborne said: "He has improved this year and I would love him to get in the Ayr Gold Cup. He is going the right way and if he gets in, he deserves to be one of the favourites. He has shown in each run he is on the upgrade."Ayr Gold Cup. Ayr, Saturday, 6f12 Hawkeyethenoo, 14 Doc Hay, Imperial Guest, Jamesie, Our Jonathan, Prodigality, 16 Alben Star, Bertiewhittle, Borderlescott, Cheviot, Dubawi Sound, 20 others

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Goldie in upbeat mood as top sprinter prepares for glory bid

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