Blue Point and Secret Number go for more Ascot success

Leading three-year-old sprinter Blue Point and lightly-raced seven-year-old Secret Number bid for G3 honours at Ascot, UK, on Saturday, October 7. 

Blue Point (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) makes a third appearance at the Berkshire course this season in the six-furlong G3 Bengough Stakes, with the son of Shamardal having started his year with an impressive course and distance success in the G3 Pavilion Stakes in May.

He also ran an excellent race over six furlongs at Ascot when coming home a close third in the G1 Commonwealth Cup and finished fourth over the same distance on his latest appearance in the G1 Sprint Cup on heavy ground at Haydock Park on September 9. 

Charlie Appleby commented: “Blue Point has come forward since his run at Haydock. He had a break during the summer, when he probably did a bit too well, and got a bit tired in the testing conditions last time out. 

“If he can he repeat the form of his previous Ascot performances, he is going to take all of the beating.”

Blue Point is drawn seven of the 10 runners.

Secret Number (Saeed bin Suroor/Gerald Mosse) goes for a second victory in the G3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes, having stayed on strongly to score by two and a half lengths in the 12-furlong contest in 2013. 

The son of Raven’s Pass has made two appearances so far this year, readily winning the 12-furlong G2 Bosphorus Cup at Veliefendi, Turkey, on September 3 and then finishing third after being denied a clear run in the 11-furlong G3 Legacy Cup at Newbury on September 23. 

Saeed bin Suroor reported: “Secret Number won nicely out in Turkey and ran a good race last time at Newbury, when he was a little unlucky. 

“He has won this race in the past and a mile and a half around Ascot suits him well. I am hoping for another good run on Saturday.”

Secret Number has to give weight away all round to his eight rivals who are headed by Classic second Waldgeist, who was beaten a short-head in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly in June.

Also at Ascot on Saturday, Birchwood (Richard Fahey/Gerald Mosse – drawn four of 18), third in Betfred Mile Handicap at Goodwood in August, lines up in in the Challenge Cup Heritage Handicap with 9st 6lbs over seven furlongs.