Cox reveals Royal Ascot plan for top sprinter

Clive Cox has confirmed he would prefer to target top sprinter Konchek at the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday week, rather than the Coventry Stakes.

The juvenile produced an eye-catching turn of foot on his debut on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile to win a competitive 5f dash on 1,000 Guineas day, despite showing signs of inexperience coming down into The Dip.

While he was subsequently beaten on his second start by Vintage Brut at Sandown, the softer ground and trouble in running saw him lose his unbeaten record by half a length.

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Cox has decided that the son of Lethal Force may be more effective over the minimum trip and, weather permitting, will duck a step up to 6f for the Coventry Stakes, the first race of the five-day Royal meeting, on Tuesday.

The five-day forecast is for low pressure to build with rain arriving by the weekend, although conditions are set fair for the early part of next week.

Cox said: “We will cover both bases, purely from a weather point of view. If the forecast is wet for next Thursday, we will look at the Coventry.

“However, I don’t think it is necessary to go six furlongs, as he is a proper speedball and, all being well, we will go for the Norfolk.

“At Sandown, he got a bump at the start, which wasn’t that obvious and he had to be taken back early, so to finish as close as he did, he had to have shown a lot of speed.”

Konchek’s sire was a dual Group 1-winning sprinter over 6f for Cox, but he explained: “Obviously we know the family well and it must be remembered that his dam (Soar) was second in the (5f) Queen Mary Stakes, so he has a proper five-furlong pedigree.”

In other Royal Ascot news, connections of the Cox-trained Zonderland are hopeful that he will improve from his seasonal return in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury when he runs in the Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday.

Chris Richardson, racing manager to owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: “The plan is to go to the Queen Anne with Zonderland.

“He needed the race in the Lockinge. Although he had his ground in the Lockinge he is a horse that can be a bit stuffy.

“He has definitely got the ability and he hasn’t had a lot of luck in running.”

Today’s racing offer relatively low-key fare, with two afternoon meetings at Salisbury and Thirsk, with evening jumping action from Southwell. They also go on the Flat at Lingfield. Click here for all your horse racing odds.

Tuesday’s Selections:

Salisbury: 2.00 Critical Data, 2.30 Wufud (NAP), 3.00 Jurz, 3.30 Scimitar, 4.00 Last Enchantment, 4.30 Firlinfeu, 5.00 Miss Inga Sock, 5.30 Pursuing Steed

Thirsk: 2.15 Call Him Al, 2.45 Mac O’Polo, 3.15 Case Key (nb), 3.45 Fleetfoot Jack, 4.15 Mutafani, 4.45 Erastus, 5.15 Revenge, 5.45 Champarisi

Southwell: 6.10 Atlantic Storm, 6.40 Reckless Behaviour, 7.10 Chantecler, 7.40 Equus Flight, 8.10 Royal Village, 8.40 Ezanak, 9.10 Get Ready Freddy

Lingfield: 5.50 Varsovian, 6.20 Atwaar, 6.50 Soaring Spirits, 7.20 Howman, 7.50 The Bear Can Fly, 8.20 Falcon Cliffs, 8.50 Astute Boy

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