Mark Johnston could run Rich And Famous in Mill Reef at Newbury
Friday 9 September 2016 14:27, UK
Rich And Famous could make the jump from maiden to Group-race company in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.
After being forced to miss an engagement in a Listed event at Ripon last month due to a cough, the Mark Johnston-trained two-year-old may now head to the Berkshire track on September 17 for a shot at the Group Two contest.
The son of Bernardini built on an encouraging debut second at Glorious Goodwood when following it up with a facile success at Newmarket's July Course on his most recent outing.
Charlie Johnston, son and assistant trainer, said: "Rich And Famous is a horse we think a huge amount of.
"He bolted up in fairly ordinary maiden company at Newmarket and the intended plan was to go for the Two-Year-Old Trophy at Ripon on Bank Holiday Monday.
"He was just coughing in the build-up so we thought we would give that a swerve. He is in the Mill Reef at Newbury and the Middle Park. These entries show the regard we hold him in.
"It will just be a case of how well he is between now and next Saturday. If he goes to the Mill Reef we are confident that he has got the ability to compete in that sort of race but he would need to be in top order to go there."
The Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster has been pencilled in as a potential target for Montataire after he made it four wins from his last five starts with an impressive success at Salisbury on his most recent outing.
Johnston added: "It is fantastic that he has won four of his last five starts. We went to Salisbury expecting him to be competitive but if you told us beforehand that he would bolt up by five lengths eased down we would have been a little bit surprised.
"He was in the same race as Frankuus at Haydock (Ascendant Stakes) but he had a foot abscess in the middle of last week. It was nothing sinister but he had to miss that race.
"He is in the Royal Lodge and Racing Post Trophy. These are targets we have in mind for him. He won over a mile Salisbury staying on well that day and the Racing Post Trophy may be a long-term target."
