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SALISBURY HOSTS FOUR FANTASTIC RACEDAYS

Posted June 7th 2007

There is a feast of action to look forward to at Salisbury Racecourse in the coming weeks, with four exciting fixtures that include the Listed Axminster Carpets Cathedral Stakes (Sunday, June 17) and the ever-popular Bibury Cup Day (Wednesday, June 27).

Tuesday, June 12, 2007 (First race 2.15pm)

The upcoming action commences on Tuesday, June 12, when the welcoming Wiltshire course stages a competitive seven-race card.

The George Smith Horseboxes Maiden Auction Stakes (2.15pm) starts off the racing which features the £10,500 E.B.F Margadale Fillies' Handicap (3.45pm), won last season by Derby-winning jockey Frankie Dettori aboard Island Odyssey. There was an excellent winner of the 10-furlong contest in 2005 when the Gerard Butler-trained Natalie Jane scored decisively and then went on to finish third to Playful Act in the Group Two Lancashire Oaks on her next start.

There are 22 entries which bodes well for this year’s race, while the whole seven-race programme has attracted a huge total of 229 entries.

Axminster Carpets Cathedral Stakes Day - Sunday, June 17 (First Race 2pm)

Families and racing afficionados are already looking forward to Sunday, June 17, when the highlight of the six-race card is the Listed £30,000 Axminster Carpets Cathedral Stakes (3.30pm).

The six-furlong contest traditionally attracts high-class competitors and the 2003 renewal went to the Roger Charlton-trained Avonbridge, who subsequently beat the best sprinters in Europe when winning the Group One Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp in 2005.

Moss Vale landed the 2004 running before going on to Group Two success, while another Barry Hills-trained sprinter, Etlaala, a Group Two-winning juvenile and third in the 2005 Group One July Cup, took last season's Axminster Carpets Cathedral Stakes.

Sunday, June 17, is a designated Family Fun Day with an array of fun activities for the kids to enjoy. A big screen will be in operation at all of Salisbury's fixtures this season and accompanied under-16s are admitted free as usual. There is also free car parking and the gates open at 11am.

Bibury Cup Day - Wednesday, June 27 (First Race 2.10pm)

Doccombe European Bibury Cup Day is one of Salisbury's summer highlights and produces exciting racing in a relaxed and friendly environment.

The £16,000 Doccombe European Bibury Cup Handicap (3.10pm) is always a competitive affair and last year's renewal of the mile and half contest went to the Richard Hannon-trained Oh Glory Be under Richard Hughes.

Salisbury races often throw up future big-race performers and the Doccombe European Bibury Cup upholds that fact as the 2005 winner Magic Instinct went on to finish a short-head second in the Group Three Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington, Australia, in November, 2006.

The Andrew Balding-trained Albinus, successful in 2004, subsequently performed with credit at Listed level, while the 2001 winner Arrive added the Listed Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket to his list of successes.

Racing commences with the five-furlong New Milton Construction EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes (2.10pm), which was won last year by the William Haggas-trained Enticing who landed the Group Three Molcomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in August.

The seven-race programme also features the £18,000 Noel Cannon Memorial Trophy Handicap (4.10pm), over a mile, which in 2006 went to the Michael Blanshard-trained Sew N' So Character.

Last season's running of the £11,000 J. S. Gledhill & Associates Surveyors & Valuers Handicap (4.40pm) over 10-furlongs produced plenty of future winners. The winner, Great Plains, added the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship at Abu Dhabi in March, while the runner-up, Fairmile, took the prestigious John Smith's Cup at York next time out and then added a valuable handicap victory at the Dubai International Racing Carnival during the winter, as did fifth-placed Impeller.

Racegoers may be fortunate to witness another star in the making in the concluding Rodin Development Ltd Handicap Stakes (5.10pm). Last year's renewal went to Katchit, who proved a revelation over hurdles as he swept all before him in the juvenile division, winning seven of eight starts including the Grade One Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Family Fun Day - Sunday, July 1 (First Race 2.20pm)

With the summer season in full swing, Salisbury hosts another Family Fun Day on Sunday, July 1, when those in attendance may well wonder whether they have witnessed a future Classic winner following the running of the £18,000 TurfTV Auction Stakes at 4.20pm.

The six-furlong conditions race was won in 2005 by the following year’s Vodafone Derby hero Sir Percy. Marcus Tregoning's charge went through his juvenile season unbeaten and wrapped up the campaign with victory in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes.

The 2003 renewal also went to that season's Dewhurst Stakes winner, Milk It Mick, who won at the highest level in the US last year, while 2002 Dewhurst Stakes victor Tout Seul was runner-up to Cosmo in the TurfTV Auction Stakes earlier that term.

The enthralling seven-race card on Sunday, July 1, also includes the £9,000 Herbert And Gwen Blagrave EBF Maiden Stakes (2.50pm), which has been won in recent times by a number of high-class runners including Godolphin's Group Two Royal Lodge hero Perfectperformance (2004).

The 2002 renewal saw the David Elsworth-trained Group One stalwart Norse Dancer narrowly edge out the Andrew Balding-trained Phoenix Reach, who went on to secure Group One victories in Canada, Hong Kong and Dubai.

Group Two winners Passing Glance and Priors Lodge were victorious in 2001 and 2000 respectively and the pair subsequently went head to head in a vintage renewal of the Sovereign Stakes back at Salisbury in 2003, with the first-named prevailing by a short-head.

This fixture also includes the inaugural running of the £10,000 Alderholt Seniors' Sprint Handicap (3.20pm). The innovative five-furlong contest is restricted to horses aged six and upwards.

Salisbury Clerk Of The Course & General Manager Jeremy Martin said today: "It's been a good start to the season so far and we have seen some nice winners like Sweepstake, who is unbeaten and looks to be one of the best two-year-old fillies seen out so far, as well as another smart Richard Hannon filly in Cake.

"Dance Of Light won her maiden here before running in the Oaks and we've also had a Royal winner as Fretwork won here for The Queen and could head to the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot later this month.

"The racing staged at Salisbury is always full of interest and the four fixtures within the next four weeks have plenty to recommend them. A new race on July 1 is the Alderholt Seniors' Sprint Handicap (3.20pm) which is restricted to horses aged six and above, a first in British racing."

Admission prices on Tuesday, June 12, Sunday June 17, Wednesday, June 27 and Sunday, July 1, are Members' Enclosure £18, Tattersalls Enclosure £11 And Course Enclosure £6. Accompanied children under 16 are admitted free and all car parking is free.

For further information, please contact Jeremy Martin on 01722 326461

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