Sun Maiden primed for York outing

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, has revealed Sun Maiden is being aimed at “one of two” York races.

The three-year-old finished a promising fourth at Wolverhampton last December on her sole juvenile race before returning to action at Salisbury in May to land the Smith & Williamson Fillies' Novice Stakes by a huge margin.

Sir Michael Stoute's charge was third at Ascot last time out in the Ribblesdale Stakes and that brought up the possibility of a crack at the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

However, Grimthorpe has ruled out a trip to Ireland and has instead revealed York is the most likely destination for Sun Maiden.

“She is in good form from Ascot and we are considering the options for her, but she will not go for the Irish Oaks,” he said. “We are probably looking at one of two races at York, either the Galtres Stakes or the Yorkshire Oaks.

“She is still a very immature horse but she ran very well at Ascot. She got pushed a little wide there but ran a super race in what looked a pretty good renewal. That little bit of inexperience found her out.

“I think she is an interesting filly for the future but she needs to get a few miles on the clock.”