RACING NOTES WITH GRAHAM ORANGE

SINNDAR achieved both cult and hero status when he annihilated his opponents in the Irish Derby at The Curragh last Sunday to become the first horse since Commander in Chief in 1993 to complete the Epsom-Irish Derby double... and earn his connections a £1
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Jul 2000, 02:00 BST

The Irish-trained colt, owned and bred by the Aga Khan, will almost certainly be aimed at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the autumn. Last year's Irish Derby winner, Montjeu was exceptional; Sinndar earned the right to be placed in that category.

* Doncaster's fixture last Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon was full of incident - and good racing.

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Red Millennium looked a very useful juvenile filly when winning The Regional Magazine Company Conditions Stakes by an impressive four lengths in the hands of Franny Norton. Owned by The Red Shirt Brigade, whose members were in a celebratory mood on Saturday night, Red Millennium has several options open to her over the minimum distance of five furlongs and she is certainly one to follow.

Saturday evening's proceedings ended with a dead heat in the handicap race for fillies and mares, as the judge couldn't separate Unchain My Heart and Ladywell Blaise.

And there was some cracking racing on Sunday afternoon on Town Moor, despite the damp start to the day.

Yet, the big talking point was the victory by McGillycuddy Reeks in the L J Monks Stakes, a handicap race over the extended mile and a quarter.

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Happy Diamond appeared to be coasting to a very comfortable victory, ridden by Royston Ffrench, when the young rider, thinking the race was in the bag, eased his mount down well inside the final furlong only to be caught napping by the persevering Kim Tinker on McGillycuddy Reeks. Ffrench was given a 14 day ban by the stewards for his bloomer.

* It's back to Doncaster for racing on Town Moor next Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evening (July 12 and 13), when racing starts at 2.15pm and 6.45pm respectively.

A brace of Conditions races are featured on Wednesday afternoon - the Doncaster Racecourse Sponsorship Club Conditions Stakes (one mile) and the Flying Scotsman Stakes (a race for two-year-olds over seven furlongs).

A further highlight is the TransPennine Express Handicap Stakes, a contest

for three-year-old sprinters over six furlongs.

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On Thursday evening, the principal race is the Ranskill Handicap Stakes, a contest for three-year-olds over a mile and a quarter.

* Good news from Doncaster concerning the sponsorship of one of the big races at the Rothmans Royals St Leger Festival in September - the Champagne Stakes.

First held at Doncaster in 1823, this Group 2 race for top-class two-year-olds will be sponsored by Glance plc under the banner of their racing information service web-site, thehorsesmouth.co.uk.

Held on Friday, September 8, thehorsesmouth.co.uk Champagne Stakes is

contested over seven furlongs. Entries for this year's race, which boasts a total prize fund of 100,000, close on August 2.

Related topics:RacingDoncaster