(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Trainer Sabrina Harty is aiming her stable star Ansgar at the Group II Qatar Lennox Stakes, the highlight on the opening day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Tuesday, July 28.
The seven-furlong contest has seen its prize fund double this year, rising from £150,000 to £300,000, thanks to Qatar's sponsorship.
Ansgar is no stranger to success at Goodwood, having captured the Group Three Doom Bar Supreme Stakes over the same distance of seven furlongs during the August Bank Holiday Weekend in 2014.
The seven-year-old followed up that triumph with the biggest victory of his career so far in the Group Two Park Stakes, also at seven furlongs, at Doncaster in September.
Trained in Ireland, Ansgar has run twice so far this year, both times in Britain. After disappointing on his seasonal reappearance in the Group Three Jury Stakes at Haydock Park in May, the son of Celtic Swing came home 10th, beaten just under seven lengths, in the Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs at Royal Ascot on June 20.
Harty commented: "Providing the ground is good, we plan to run Ansgar in the Qatar Lennox Stakes at Goodwood. He will run first at the Curragh on Sunday (July 19 in the Group Three Minstrel Stakes over seven furlongs).
"He ran a bit too fresh last time at Royal Ascot. He was two or three lengths clear of the field at one point and travelled too strong early on. On his reappearance at Haydock, the ground was just too dead for him.
"He is course and distance winner at Goodwood and seven furlongs is his ideal trip. He does need good ground and I am pleased to hear it has been largely a dry summer so far at Goodwood.
"Ansgar has always seemed to come to his best in mid-season. It's a long season and we have never run him a lot early on, as usually the ground isn't right for him.
"I think the prize money on offer at Goodwood this year is just fantastic."
Harty is also planning on bringing Kalann to the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The eight-year-old finished third in last season's Group Two Doncaster Cup and missed last month's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot due to a late setback. He holds an entry in the £300,000 Group Two Qatar Goodwood Cup over two miles on Thursday, July 30.
Harty added: "Kalann unfortunately pulled a muscle just before Royal Ascot and we had to pull him out. I am happy with him now, although we just got a bit behind with him in the spring.
"He seems to be coming to himself and he will have also have a prep run at the Curragh this weekend which will hopefully set him up to go to Goodwood."
Qatar Goodwood Festival
Goodwood Racecourse was delighted to announce in December, 2014, a new 10-year partnership with Qatar, which is the single biggest sponsorship deal ever done for the benefit of British racing.
Commencing in 2015, this makes the Qatar Goodwood Festival one of the most significant and valuable meetings in the world. The highlight, the Qatar Sussex Stakes, is worth £1 million.
The Qatar Goodwood Festival runs for five days from Tuesday, July 28 to Saturday, August 1.
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