Sunway set to shine on Newbury reappearance

Irish Derby runner-up Sunway aims to get his four-year-old season off to the best possible start in the Dubai Duty Finest Surprise (John Porter) Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The Group Three has been chosen as the starting point by David Menuisier for a horse who went on to be fourth in the King George, third in the St Leger and ended his season beaten just over 10 lengths in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe by Bluestocking.

He will be ridden by his regular partner Oisin Murphy, who said: “Sunway has some very good form from last year. It’s a competitive race, obviously, with Ancient Wisdom and Bellum Justum who look two strong competitors.

“But I’m looking forward to riding him again.”

Menuisier said this week: “He’s in very good order, so fingers crossed. I think it seems the right race to start again, so let’s see. Let’s hope there’s a bit of pace and the horse will come on for that. He seems straight enough anyway.

“He always seemed to bump into a nice horse. He was beaten by some very smart ones. So one day it will be his turn.

“We don’t really have much choice (with his races). If he keeps on going forward, the idea probably would be the Jockey Club Stakes and the Coronation Cup and then either a tilt at Ascot or to France for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.”

Dallas Star won the Ballysax Stakes for Adrian Murray last year as a 50-1 outsider but picked up an injury in the Derby and did not run again.

He won on his comeback at Dundalk but could only finish fourth last time out and Murray thinks he now needs further than 10 furlongs.

“I think he might have got stuck in the ground, but that wouldn’t have been his trip last time, we think he wants a trip and long-term we are looking at a mile and six for him,” said Murray.

“It’s quite possible he could develop into a Cup horse in the future. He’s an interesting horse, we think he’s got a bright future.

“He won the Ballysax well last year, but then he ran in the Derby and picked up an injury, obviously he missed the rest of the season so he missed out on a bit of experience.”

Tom Clover’s Tabletalk was another who ran in the Derby and he was not disgraced at all when 10th on just his third run. He went on to win the valuable Melrose Handicap at York.

“I think this is a really good starting point for him for the year ahead,” said Clover.

“He’s not short of speed and perhaps has even got quicker over the winter and this could help us decide where we head later in the year.

“If he could run a belter here, we know he stays a mile and six, and I just thought it would really help us decide where we go next, whether that’s back up in trip, or stick at a mile and a half.”

Ancient Wisdom was a Group One winner at two who finished eighth in the Derby. He won the Bahrain Trophy and was among the favourites for the Leger but missed it through injury

His trainer Charlie Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “Ancient Wisdom has trained very well through the spring to date, and we’ve had this race pencilled in for a while.

“Unfortunately, the going will be quicker than we would have liked, but I’m sure it will be safe ground and he’s fit and ready to go.”