They certainly knew what they were doing when Hamilton Park moved one six-furlong conditions race back three months from its traditional slot in September. The second June running of the British Stallion Studs Clyde EBF Conditions Stakes takes place at the Scottish track tomorrow (Thursday), and it has attracted a field stronger than many Group 2s.
There is Sands Of Mali, winner of last October’s G1 Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot. The 4-year-old, not seen since finishing sixth in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in March, has been declared to make his British seasonal reappearance in the £27,000 contest.
Indeed, three of the first four home in that Ascot Champions Sprint will be in the line-up as Donjuan Triumphant (third) and Brando (fourth) have also been declared.
Donjuan Triumphant, owned by King Power Racing, the enterprise formed by the late Leicester City Chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and now run by his son, Aiyawatt, rounded off last season with a listed victory at Doncaster. He will be partnered by King Power’s retained rider, reigning champion Silvestre De Sousa.
G1 winner Brando will be returning to the scene of his maiden victory in 2015. Since then he has racked up a further seven victories, including the G1 Maurice de Gheest in August 2017, and he finished second in the G2 Duke of York Stakes, G1 July Cup and G1 Haydock Sprint Stakes last year.
Completing the six-runner line-up are Fighting Irish, for Lambourn-trainer Harry Dunlop, Lomu, for local trainer Keith Dalgleish, and Lahore for Philip Makin.
Hamilton Park Racing Manager Sulekha Varma said. “This race is being run for only the second time in this June slot, having previously taken place in September, and it is wonderful to see another high-class field again this year.
“Last year’s winner, the David Elsworth-trained Sir Dancealot, went on to G3 glory in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket, followed that up with a close-up fourth in the July Cup and then completed a G2 double in the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.
“The collection of silverware among the horses in the race is quite remarkable and we are thrilled that they will be running at Hamilton Park on Thursday.”