Lady Montdore seeks Glens Falls repeat; Well Of Wisdom aims G3 glory

Five-year-old mare Lady Montdore looks to win the G2 Glens Falls Stakes for a second successive year on her return from a break at Saratoga on Saturday.

The Tom Albertrani-trained daughter of Medaglia d’Oro made all for a decisive win in the 11-furlong turf contest 12 months ago and went on to finish third in the G1 Flower Bowl Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Belmont Park in October.

Lady Montdore has made two appearances, both in G2 turf races Belmont Park, so far this season, finishing fourth in the 11-furlong Sheepshead Bay Stakes in May and eighth over a furlong shorter in the New York Stakes in June.

Kendrick Carmouche, on board for both starts this year, takes the ride on Lady Montdore, who faces eight others headed by Sheepshead Bay Stakes winner Santa Monica and last year’s G1 Preis der Diana second Night Of England.

Tom Albertani said: “We are hopeful that Lady Montdore can repeat last year’s victory.

“She ran a couple of disappointing races at Belmont Park earlier this season but has been training much better recently.

“She feels much brighter and fresher compared to her last two starts and hopefully she has got her spark back.”

Elsewhere, Well Of Wisdom steps back up to seven furlongs for the G3 Zukunfts-Rennen at Baden-Baden in Germany on Saturday.

The two-year-old colt stayed on to take second, beaten four lengths by subsequent G1 Darley Prix Morny winner Earthlight, in the six-furlong G3 Darley Prix de Cabourg at Deauville in France on 28 July.

Well Of Wisdom made all for a game neck victory in the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure over seven furlongs at Longchamp on July 14, and started out with three appearances in the UK, including a debut success over five furlongs at Newmarket in April.

James Doyle partners the Charlie Appleby-trained son of Oasis Dream, who opposes nine others headed by Clairefontaine winner Alson plus UK challengers Game And Set and Above.

Appleby said: “Well Of Wisdom has some rock-solid form to his name, especially with Earthlight going on to win at G1 level.

“The step back up to seven furlongs is going to suit and he heads to Germany with a strong chance of winning a Group race.”

Meanwhile, Debut winner Darlington Hall steps up to G3 level for the Sapporo Nisai Stakes over nine furlongs at Sapporo in Japan on Saturday.

The two-year-old New Approach colt quickened strongly to score by a length and a half in a newcomers’ race over the same distance at Hakodate on July 21.

Darlington Hall, trained by Tetsuya Kimura and ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe, lines up against 11 other juveniles with course and distance winner Golconda expected to be among his main rivals.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “Darlington Hall won in very pleasing style on his debut at Hakodate six weeks ago.

“His trainer had been touting him before the race and he won in the style of a good horse.

“Ironically, it is his stablemate Golconda who is perhaps his greatest danger on Saturday. Golconda was very impressive when he won at Sapporo over a month ago and established a new record time, so there can be no denying his ability.

“I have avoided asking the trainer which of the two he likes the best but they worked together on Wednesday and Darlington Hall went every bit as well as Golconda.

“Darlington Hall is drawn in stall one but, as we expect there will be plenty of speed in the race, we don’t believe that it will be too much of a hindrance. I am hoping that he finishes in the first two.”

Impressive recent winner Al Suhail spearheads a two-strong challenge for trainer Charlie Appleby in the G3 Solario Stakes, with Full Verse also lining up in the seven-furlong contest for two-year-olds at Sandown Park, UK, on Saturday, 31 August.

Dubawi colt Al Suhail (William Buick) powered clear to score by four lengths in a seven-furlong novice race at Yarmouth on Thursday, 15 August, having gone down a neck on debut over the same trip in a Newmarket maiden in July.