Zac Spirit entered for July Cup
Zac Spirit could become the first Singapore-trained horse to contest the July Cup at Newmarket after featuring among 59 entries for this year’s race.
The dual Group One-winning sprinter, trained by Australian Cliff Brown, is one of four non-European entries for the STG500,000 ($A972,384) six-furlong (1200m) contest on July 9.
Last year’s Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, now with Aidan O’Brien, is one of eight entries for the champion Irish trainer while hopes of an Australian-based winner rest with Godolphin’s Holler trained by John O’Shea.
After an 11-month lay off because of injury, Zac Spirit made a successful return to action at Kranji last month to claim the Group One Lion City Cup for the second time having won in 2014.
“I am seriously considering sending Zac Spirit over to England to run in the Darley July Cup as there is not a lot for him in Singapore at this time of year and everything is fantastic with him at the moment. He’s better than ever,” Brown said.
“I think he would cope fine with the different conditions over there.
“We would make sure we travelled him over plenty of time in advance.
“He’s always hanging tough at the end of seven-furlong races here, so the stiff, straight six should suit him well.
“He’s a lightly raced horse who has had to recover from two surgeries.”
“After his most recent operation he spent six months back in Australia (where he was bred) and that has really helped him both physically and mentally.”