Claymore Back for More on Hungary’s Big Day at Kincsem Park

[Wandering Eyes]

Hungary's Kincsem Park hosts its major international festival this Sunday which is headlined by the Kincsem Stakes, the most prestigious race run in the country.

Returning to defend his crown in the big race is Jane Chapple-Hyam's Claymore (New Bay), the well travelled seven-year-old who has raced in six different countries  and whose wins include the G3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2022.

He will face opposition from his home town of Newmarket in the Dylan Cunha-trained Asgard's Captain (Make Believe). The 95-rated six-year-old has won 11 of his 46 starts and defeated Claymore when winning the Shergar Cup Challenge on his most recent start on August 8. He will be partnered by Marco Ghiani, while Saffie Osborne also makes the trip to Hungary to ride Claymore. 

The latter's owner and trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam said on Saturday, “Claymore travelled out well and he looks bright and alert. It took three days with two night stops but he ate and drank all the way. He went for a gentle jog this morning on the all-weather track and I'm very pleased with him. Saffie Osborne is in great order and rode a double yesterday.”

She continued, “It does mean a lot to me to have won this, especially as it was the 100th year last year of the Kincsem Stakes. It's great to have come back to try to retain our crown. He loves travelling – he thrives on it.”

Chapple-Hyam is expecting the ground to be good to firm for the 2,400m contest. She added, “Claymore had a bit of an excuse for his poor showing in the Shergar Cup as he came back with a fractured tooth and an abscess in his mouth, so we will put a line through the last start and let's hope he can run well. It will be tough competition against Asgard's Captain – he's a good horse on firm ground and I respect him very much. If I finish second to him I will know that my boy has run a solid race. They are stabled opposite each other and all we ask is that both horses come back sound.”

Nine horses will face the judge for the Kincsem Stakes, a domestic Grade 1 for Hungary worth 40 million Ft (approximately €110,500). The line-up is set to include the Czech-trained Gasparini (Eagle Top) as well as Kosakenzipfel (Reliable Man), who is trained in Germany by Sarah Steinberg. The card also features three local Grade 2 contests, including the Tattersalls Ireland-sponsored Overdose Stakes, run over 1,000m and named in honour of the top sprinter nicknamed 'The Budapest Bullet'.

 

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