Betfred Garrowby Stakes At York

Trainer Rae Guest is looking forward to running high-quality sprinter Mirza in Sunday’s £37,000 feature race at York, the Betfred Garrowby Stakes.

Trainer Rae Guest is looking forward to running high-quality sprinter Mirza in Sunday’s £37,000 feature race at York, the Betfred Garrowby Stakes.

Mirza was a Listed winner at Cork last season and, while he hasn’t scaled those heights so far in 2013, He will try again on Sunday boosted by his effort when a close third in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle.

That was with his preferred soft ground conditions and, with rain falling at York during Friday, the surface is heading in his favour again.

Newmarket-based Guest said: “He has run some good races this season, especially when he gets his ground.

“Like all sprinters, he needs everything to fall right for him. He’s in great form and if the ground comes up soft, I could see him running very well.”

The day’s showpiece has attracted a quality field of 12, including last year’s winner Mince along with Ladies Are Forever, who took the Group Three 32Red Summer Stakes over this course and distance of six furlongs back in July.

The seven-race card that is worth over £100,00 also features five fiercely competitive handicaps with the 4.40 contest, the Hanson Springs 50^th Anniversary Stakes for three-year-olds over six furlongs, looking especially ‘hot’.

The 15 declared runners include the Dean Ivory-trained Lancelot Du Lac, winner of a handicap on the Knavesmire during the Dante Festival in May.

The son of Shamardal has continued on an upward curve since that victory in the spring and was last seen winning a handicap at Newmarket in August.

Ivory said: “I like the look of this race for Lancelot Du Lac. He has come out his win at Newmarket well and is progressing nicely.

“York suits him, he’s won there before, and there is plenty in his favour.”

The day begins with the two Grand Finals of the Charles Owen Pony racing Series with the thoroughbred action underway at 2pm and the feature Befred Garrowby Stakes scheduled for 3pm.