David O'Meara could sent Custom Cut abroad
Wednesday 29 April 2015 12:09, UK
Custom Cut could be on his travels after he made a winning return at Sandown last Friday.
The popular six-year-old showed trademark grit to deny Here Comes When by a length and a half in the Group Two bet365 Mile at the Esher circuit.
Custom Cut is still in contention for the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 16, but the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp eight days later is also an option.
Trainer David O'Meara said: "He's in good form and it was a very good run to win a Group Two with a penalty.
"He'll be left in it (Lockinge), but we'll also look at the French race."
The Notnowcato gelding is one of 27 going forward for the Newbury contest.
O'Meara went on: "He has come out of Sandown really well. It was a great performance and it looks like he has resumed in good form.
"He still has to prove he is up to Group One standard. He was well beaten at Ascot but I don't think that was his true running. He was drawn badly and it was at the end of a long season. It was well below the standards of his Group Two wins."
Other notable acceptors include last year's QIPCO 2000 Guineas hero Night Of Thunder and Toormore, who was the European Champion Two-Year-Old of 2013. Their trainer Richard Hannon took the spoils with Olympic Glory in 2014.
Sir Michael Stoute has left in dual Group One winner winner Integral, while Clive Brittain could saddle Rizeena, who has also captured two Group One contests.
Breeders' Cup Mile victor Karakontie headlines four the French-trained contenders. His trainer Jonathan Pease has also left in potential pacemaker Maximum Velocity. Prestige Vendome (Nicholas Clement), runner-up to Karakontie in the French 2000 Guineas, and Group Three scorer Bawina (Carlos Laffon-Parias) complete the quartet.
Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien is responsible for Cougar Mountain and Oklahoma City, while there is US interest in the shape of the Todd Pletcher-trained Mshawish, successful in the Grade One Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap in February.
The Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes boasts a prize fund of £350,000 in 2015, a 64 per cent up on last year's £214,000.
