Kurakka will improve again for easier ground and reverting to longer trip

July 13

Not surprisingly in view of the continued fast ground, we only had four runners last week, but Kurakka ran a terrific race when upped in class for a competitive handicap at Newmarket’s July meeting on Friday, while forget the ninth-place finishing position of Brioni in the prestigious John Smith’s Cup at York as he looked like he might make the frame a furlong and a half from home. only to be swallowed up on the run to the line.

Alan had withdrawn Kurakka from the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot at the overnight stage because of the quick ground, so he was in two minds as to whether to give his lightly-raced dual winner the green light to run at HQ.

Kurakka was 5lb higher than when winning over a mile and a half at Haydock, so Alan was justifiably delighted how well he stuck on in the closing stages to take the bronze medal position over 10 furlongs, a trip which was always going to be on the sharp side for him.

Alan said:”We took our chance and Kurakka did us proud, but we knew beforehand that the ground would be too fast for him, and I have no doubt that he will be better suited by returning to the longer trip with juice in the ground.”

In contrast, Brioni, racing in the same colours as Kurakka, is a  proper mile and a quarter horse, as we saw when we won so well at Sandown in June.  He was only beaten a neck over that trip in the Kincsem Handicap at Glorious Goodwood last year, so that might be an option if he shows he has fully recovered from what was a tough race in the next fortnight.

Plenty of showers are forecast from Tuesday onwards, and Alan, doubtless frustrated at the nightmare run Wisper experienced at Southwell today, will be hoping that rain falls at Newbury, where he could well have his first two-year-old runners of the season on Friday. Stand by the update on Wednesday.