Simon and Ed Crisford have lined up Cover Up for a crack at the Coolmore City of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday August 21.
The speedster enjoyed a strong Dubai campaign earlier in the year and returned to Britain to finish mid-division, beaten three and a half lengths, at Royal Ascot in the King Charles III Stakes.
On his subsequent start the six-year-old shone as he landed the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh.
Now Cover Up is set to move back into elite company, taking in the £600,000 Group 1 sprint on the Knavesmire.
Ed Crisford said: “He’s turning into a really, really decent five-furlong horse.
“I thought he was a little bit unlucky at Ascot. He was just a bit far back, ran into the back of horses and actually I thought that day he could have been very competitive and could have been in the frame.
“It wasn't to be, but he bounced back in Ireland in the Sapphire Stakes and showed a really, really good turn of foot.
“He's in super form. He's come out of Ireland extremely well and we're looking forward to running him at York.
“He's up against the best five-furlong horses in Europe. But if he brings that Sapphire form, Dubai form, and the way he was running on at Ascot, he should be in the mix.”
Another Crisford-trained horse to win on his last outing is Spinning Wheel, who is being prepared for a shot at the most famous race of the week, the Sky Bet Ebor on Saturday 22nd.
The four-year-old gelding tuned up for the richest flat handicap in Britain (£500,000) with a handicap success over 11 furlongs at Southwell last week.
Ed said: “It's a race, as trainers, we all want to win, the Ebor. To have a runner in it is great.
“Spinning Wheel won at Southwell in good style and this was always the plan – to go to Southwell and go on to the Ebor.
“He's an improving horse. It's a super-tough race, but he's exactly the sort of horse that will suit York and suit that lovely long run-in from the home turn. Hopefully he can run a decent race.”
From their two-year-old ranks, the Crisfords are likely to bring Flann Sunna. The Blue Point colt began his career with back-to-back wins before finishing fifth of 10 in Group 2 company at Glorious Goodwood.
Crisford commented: “We're hopefully aiming him at York, either in the Roses over five or the Gimcrack.
“He’s lightly raced still. I think he definitely deserves another crack at a stakes race.”
The four-day Sky Bet Ebor Festival runs from Wednesday August 19 to Saturday August 22.
Related Sky Bet York Ebor Festival content
- David Ord: Is the Juddmonte International really a match?
- Ben Linfoot: Best thing about York? The need for speed
- Nic Doggett: The York test facing Gimcrack hopeful Arapaho Gold
- John Ingles: Ombudsman... 30 years after Halling
- Andrew Balding: My York team
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