SPIRITUAL STAR FACES ACID TEST

Connections are looking forward to running Spiritual Star in Saturday's Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

Andrew Balding's charge, a runaway winner of a maiden at the track two weeks ago, has been supplemented into the contest at a cost of £20,000.

James Stafford, racing manager to owners Thurloe Thoroughbreds, explained: "Spiritual Star won very nicely at Newmarket and he looked like a potentially smart horse in the making.

"We are very thrilled with him and we are stepping a little bit into the unknown but Jimmy Fortune said that he deserved a go in a Group race.

"We had the option of going to Newmarket or waiting until the Horris Hill Stakes (October 22) at Newbury and we thought that we would run him while he is in such good form.

"He is an improving horse and he is very straightforward. Touch wood, everything has gone well with him so far and we need to find out how good he is."

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CHERRY STREETS AHEAD AT PONTE

Hot favourite Humungosaur was a big disappointment as Cherry Street opened his account in the EBF "Franklins Gardens" Maiden at Pontefract.

Humungosaur looked to have been found an excellent opportunity to get off the mark, having finished third in a Deauville Listed race last time, but while he led for a long way, the even-money chance found precious little for pressure.

Andrew Balding's Cherry Street (7-2) had shown ability to be placed at Kempton and Goodwood and nominal progression under David Probert was enough to see him score by three and a quarter lengths from Sir Graham Wade.

Humungosaur was only third.

Newbury maiden winner Mince proved extremely well treated on her handicap debut in the totesport Day On Monday 17th October Nursery.

Running off an initial mark of 70, the Roger Charlton-trained 2-1 favourite travelled strongly throughout in the hands of Steve Drowne and put the race to bed in a matter of strides when quickening to lead over a furlong out.

Drowne was able to ease down considerably in the closing stages and the pair still passed the post with five lengths in hand over See Clearly.

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O'BRIEN LEAVES SEXTET IN DEWHURST

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for six of the 16 five-day entries for Saturday's Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

The Ballydoyle trainer has entered his Coventry and National Stakes hero Power, Royal Lodge winner Daddy Long Legs, David Livingston, Nephrite, Reply and Tibet.

Jim Bolger's Parish Hall could join the Irish raiding party while the home defence is led by the Richard Hannon pair of Bronterre and Trumpet Major.

Roger Varian's exciting and unbeaten colt Ektihaam is another fascinating entry along with Brian Meehan's runaway Newmarket maiden winner Most Improved.

Red Duke, second to Trumpet Major in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, is set to renew rivalry while Factory Time, Fencing, Rebellious Guest and Spiritual Star complete the field.

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CASPER NETSCHER STAR MIDDLE PARK TURN

Caspar Netscher heads the 18 six-day acceptors for the Emaar Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

Alan McCabe's stable star is thriving at present and followed up his win in the Gimcrack at York by landing the Mill Reef at Newbury.

The opposition is headed by Bapak Chinta, who hasn't been seen on the racetrack since landing the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Aidan O'Brien has Crusade, Nephrite, Power and Reply although the last three named are also left in the Dewhurst.

Prix Robert Papin winner Family One could represent France while Richard Hannon relies on Lilbourne Lad.

Arnold Lane, Balty Boys, B Fifty Two, Burwaaz, Justineo, Rebellious Guest, Saigon, Samminder, Tough As Nails and West Leake Diman complete the field.

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KEYS STILL IN CESAREWITCH FRAME

Keys could still make the field for the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket on Saturday.

The four-year-old's participation in the two-and-a-quarter-mile handicap has been in doubt after he scoped dirty last week.

However, Keys delighted his trainer Roger Charlton in a workout at the weekend and the gelding has since scoped clean.

"Keys (is) on course for the Cesarewitch after a clean scope this morning. I was pleased with his work on Saturday but we need a good week with him," tweeted Charlton.

Irish challenger Mount Athos is the new top-weight for the marathon following the defection of Aaim To Prosper at the five-day stage.

A total of 64 horses remain, including Nicky Henderson's Ascot Stakes winner Veiled and Sir Mark Prescott's Tuscan Gold.

A maximum field of 34 can go to post and other possibles include the Hughie Morrison-trained Cosimo de Medici, Dermot Weld's Rainforest Magic, Jamie Osborne's Never Can Tell, and Beyond from David Pipe's stable.

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STRONG SUIT HANDED HQ CHALLENGE

Strong Suit could face up to 13 rivals in the Burj Khalifa Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Richard Hannon's three-year-old has looked much improved since having a breathing operation following a disappointing run behind Frankel in Newbury's Greenham Stakes.

Victory in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot was followed by an excellent third in the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.

He then returned to the winner's enclosure in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last time.

The champion trainer has also left in King Torus, while Giant Sandman could be an interesting contender for Norway's Rune Haugen.

David Elsworth's Eton Rifles was a fine second in the Ayr Gold Cup on his latest start and the Newmarket handler could be tempted to let his charge step back up to Pattern company if conditions are right.

"The horse is in good form and we might chuck our hat in the ring if this warm weather brings with it a few thundery showers," said Elsworth.

"We also have the option of running him at the Curragh on Sunday and conditions might be more favourable for him there.

"We'll have a look at the entries for both races, see what the weather does, and go from there."

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ACCLAMATION CHASES BC HONOURS

Acclamation put himself in the Breeders' Cup frame with a fifth successive graded race win on Sunday at Santa Anita

Don Warren's charge took up the running turning into the stretch and kept on to win the ten furlong Grade Two Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship by three parts of a length.

"It was kind of an important trial because if he hadn't won today I probably would have scratched the Breeders' Cup race," Johnston said.

Acclamation stayed true to his style of running on or near the lead.

"We had planned some strategy for either (Champ Pegasus) to go to the lead or (Make Music for Me), so we were actually prepared to lay second to somebody if they wanted to go," Warren said. "Otherwise, we would have put our horse on a two or three-length lead."

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela wasn't worried when Champ Pegasus made a run at him in the stretch.

"I had plenty of horse left," he said. "He's just a great, great horse who just gives it his all and lays it out on the racetrack."

With a month to go until the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs, Warren and majority owner and breeder Bud Johnston can now focus on whether to run Acclamation in the mile and a half Breeders' Cup Turf against European horses or the 10 furlong Classic on the dirt against North America's top older horses.

The weather in Louisville is likely to be the deciding factor.

"I don't want to run on the Churchill Downs (dirt) track unless it's wet," said Johnston, who will have to pay $100,000 to make his horse eligible for either race. "I'm not going to run on a deep racetrack."

If rain softens Churchill Downs' turf course, a condition that would favor the Europeans, Acclamation could run in the Classic.

"We think we would have a big shot on firm turf," Warren said. "We don't think the Europeans are all that great, unless it's soft turf. Then they have a big advantage when it's yielding or soft. I would prefer the Breeders' Cup Turf. We could go either way, depending on the weather."

Richard Mandella, trainer of second home Champ Pegasus, will give serious thought to running Champ Pegasus in the Breeders Cup Turf.

The winner was just too much, but my horse was trying hard," he said. "Maybe with another race in him, I'll rise to that level next time."

In the $250,000 Oak Leaf Stakes on the same card, Weemissfrankie rallied to win by a half-length over Candrea to earn an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Coming off an impressive win in the Grade One Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs on Sept. 3, Weemissfrankie sat in mid-pack into and around the club house turn and remained covered up mid-way down the backstretch.

Peter Eurton, who trains Weemissfrankie, said the chestnut filly almost certainly will be pointed toward the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. "The (Juvenile Fillies) Turf is something to think about," he added. "It's still a consideration, especially when you figure out who's going and who's not, but it's probably going to be dirt. You have options. That's the beauty part of it."

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