Princess Zoe Sets Sights on Sagaro Stakes, Gold Cup

The April 27 Longines Sagaro Stakes (G3) has the words 'A Gold Cup Trial' in brackets as a suffix and last year's Gold Cup (G1) runner-up Princess Zoe  adds a dash of stardust to this historic race.



She is bidding to become the first horse since Estimate , who was also a mare, in 2013 to win this event and then go on to land the Gold Cup. The sex allowance will definitely help Princess Zoe, but ground conditions might not be ideal.

Her sire Jukebox Jury 's progeny often prefer testing conditions and Princess Zoe has shown most of her best form with juice in the ground. Last year's Gold Cup is the exception on her record because it was good to firm and she looked to handle it well enough.

Horses often get pigeonholed with regards to ground and Princess Zoe might be another victim. She gets her chance to prove her versatility on the drying conditions here.

Princess Zoe may be closing in on national treasure status in Ireland as she won the 2020 Prix du Cadran and finished runner-up to Subjectivist in last season's Gold Cup at Ascot.

It is with that objective in mind trainer Tony Mullins has opted for the Sagaro. Princess Zoe faded to finish 10th when attempting to concede weight to Japanese star Stay Foolish  in the Group 3 staying handicap on the Saudi Cup undercard.

Mullins said: "She's travelled over well. We didn't want to run her on what I would have termed good to firm ground at Navan last time because of the nature of the track in terms of having to run downhill at a point, but I don't think that will be an issue at Ascot.

"She needs to have a run before the Gold Cup at Ascot—we have been training her solely with that race in mind. There are some talented horses in the line-up but I'm delighted with the field and that we don't have to take on Trueshan.

"The longer we can go without meeting him the better, but we'll be ready for him when we do!" 

Aidan O'Brien has never had a runner in the Sagaro and Wordsworth  bids to give him his first success in the race. A win for him would definitely be a pointer towards the Gold Cup, which O'Brien has dominated with sons of the great Galileo .

Trueshan  is the outstanding stayer in Britain and Ireland and Tashkhan  brings in form that ties in with him. He was second to Trueshan over this course and distance last season.

That came in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day, but Tashkhan appeared to have been flattered. He was well placed to challenge in comparison to the market principals. 

"He's done very well, he's thickened out a bit and he looks a million dollars," Tashkhan's trainer Brian Ellison said. "It's his first run back and while we're expecting him to run well, he'll improve a lot for the race. I just hope the ground will be okay as he is better with a bit of give. They've been putting plenty of water on so hopefully it will be alright. 

Quickthorn  brings in more recent Trueshan form. He was second to the champion stayer at Nottingham three weeks ago, but was receiving 7 pounds and was 8 pounds below his best on RPRs.



He is a potential improver and the same can be said for Enemy, who bolted up in handicap company at Musselburgh last time recording an RPR of 110. However, that rating wouldn't have been high enough to have won any of the last ten runnings of this race, so improvement will be needed.

Calling The Wind and Nayef Road  complete a classy seven-runner line-up.