Spencer happy to play waiting game with ‘exciting' Gold Digger
However, immediate plans are on hold for Gold Digger, with connections eager to take a patient approach with a filly Spencer describes as 'one of the best we've had for a while'.
'The form is very good but she had a little niggle after Ascot so she won't be out anytime shortly,' said the trainer.
'Whether we can get her back out in the autumn I don't know, but we won't be rushing her because she's very talented.
'She will be a three-year-old so we're not going to rush to get her back just for this year, so we'll mind her and if we have to, wait until next year.'
On plans for her return, Spencer added: 'If anything we will be dropping back to five furlongs to start off with then potentially stepping back up to six, but she's got so much speed. She got quicker from her Yarmouth debut to the Albany, so she'll be going five I would say wherever she goes.
'She won't run until she says she's ready and we won't be rushing, but she's exciting though and probably one of the best we've had for a while.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
7 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Get It back to defend Stewards' Cup title for Baker
'I didn't think we would win a Wokingham off 100 and do I think we will win a Stewards' Cup off 104? Well it's a massive ask,' said Baker on the task at hand. FROM THE FRONT! GET IT WINS THE WOKINGHAM STAKES! #ROYALASCOT — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2025 'But these sprinters, when they get in a good place and it's their time, you just have to roll with them. 'It's such a dull cliché but he genuinely owes us nothing. To saddle him with a Stewards' Cup and Wokingham already under his belt is a massive thrill and privilege, but if he could add another chapter it would be extraordinary.' Goodwood was hit with a deluge on Thursday, but Baker is praying for drying conditions ahead of Saturday's feature event to allow his thriving speedball to notch another notable success. 'I hope we don't see any more rain until Saturday evening and he enjoys it when it's rattling fast, so he'll be fine on good ground but we don't want it soft,' continued Baker. Get It after winning at Goodwood last year (Andrew Matthews/PA) 'There's nothing we can do about the weather though and we'll take our chances unless it will be really horrible. 'The higher we go up the handicap, the closer we are to running in Group races and we're on the cusp of that now. It will be tough but a sprinter in a good place can be a potent force.' Joining Get It towards the top of the betting markets is Kevin Ryan's Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes runner-up Hammer The Hammer and William Haggas' Elmonjed, who is out to defy a 6lb penalty after landing a competitive heat at York only last Saturday. Haggas said: 'It's not ideal running him under the penalty. He was only put up 3lb yet he's carrying 6lb more here. 'But he's clearly in form, he loves a fast pace and I just hope we're on the right side (stall eight). 'At the moment no one knows where you want to be. Nobody knows. 'I remember one year James Fanshawe never turned up for the draw, they put his horse (Zidane in 2007) back in the hat and gave him the last stall and he came out and won, so there are no rules.' Another quickly returned to the track under a 6lb penalty after notable success last weekend is Richard Spencer's Two Tribes, who has convinced his handler to try six furlongs once again after landing the International Handicap over seven at Ascot. 'He's not got a bad draw, drawn high (25), and he's fresh and well after his win last week,' said Spencer. Two Tribes winning at Ascot (John Walton/PA) 'He's run well over six furlongs before and this is a very big pot. The penalty last week ensured him a run and he came out of Ascot really well. I know I said we wouldn't go for this race and run over six again, but we're going to throw our hat in the ring on Saturday and hopefully he can run well.' Two Tribes is part of a three-strong hand for the Newmarket trainer, with Spencer also calling upon Run Boy Run and experienced Group performer Twilight Calls. Spencer said: 'Run Boy Run has a high enough draw (19) hopefully and he's going to have a visor on which is something I've been waiting to do on a run over six furlongs not seven. He's got a good each-way chance and with the visor on, there could be some improvement from him. 'Hopefully Twilight Calls gets a good tow into the race and could run well as he did very well in the Wokingham off a higher mark and all three have got sort of chances.'
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- South Wales Guardian
Asfoora carrying plenty of stable confidence for second crack at Goodwood sprint
The Antipodean speedster stuck around on British soil after her famous Royal Ascot win in the King Charles III Stakes last year and although out of luck at this year's Royal meeting, her team are confident of bettering last year's short-head defeat on Friday. Dwyer said: 'The conditions of the race are a lot more suitable this year and she has a bit less weight without the Group One penalty she had last year and the main opposition, Time For Sandals and Big Mojo, both have quite a bit of weight for their age and are dropping back from six furlongs to five furlongs. Big Evs gets back to winning ways in the King George Qatar Stakes, driven all the way by @TomMarquand to repel the challenge of Asfoora 👏@Q_REC | @MickApplebyUK — Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) August 2, 2024 'So I think the race sets up well for us, it's just a case of whether she can find her best and if she finds it, I think she goes very close to winning and if she's for some reason a length or two below her best, I still think she will still be right there. 'She's nice and relaxed again after Ascot and we gave her two weeks out in the paddock after that to help her settle in a bit more and she seems in a good space. 'I think there's definitely more to come and I do think she will improve again in three weeks' time for York, but she's on an upward curve and is going the right way and hopefully she is in very good shape for this race.' It was Mick Appleby's Big Evs who denied Asfoora in this last year and the Rutland handler, who has formed a great friendship with his Australian counterpart, looks to be a thorn in Dwyer's side once again with July Stakes runner-up and course and distance scorer Big Mojo. 'He's in great order and hopefully we can go and win the race again,' said Appleby. 'He's got plenty of pace and I think at Goodwood it will definitely suit him dropping back to five furlongs and on form he should have a very good chance. 'Asfoora is probably the one to beat, but I think we will be thereabouts anyway.' Joining Big Mojo in reverting back to five furlongs is Time For Sandals who was one half of Harry Eustace's memorable Royal Ascot Group One double when landing the Commonwealth Cup. However, like Appleby, the Newmarket handler has few concerns about the shorter distance and said: 'The big question mark is obviously going back to a sharp five for her having won over a stiff six at Ascot. 'Personally, I don't think it will be a problem and Richard (Kingscote) is pretty positive she'll be fine over it too, but if we're going to find her out this year it will be in this race.' Also expected to thrive on one of the fastest five-furlong tracks in the country is Karl Burke's Night Raider who is backed to showcase his blistering cruising speed. 'When we were buying him I always thought this was the race for him,' said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing. 'He's very fast and Goodwood is a very quick five as we know. It didn't work at Ascot for him, but I do think this will be right up his alley.' Meanwhile Ed Walker's Lowther Stakes winner Celandine will bid to make up for lost time after being kept on the sidelines in the first half of the season. 'It's been a very frustrating year with her so far,' said Walker. 'The plan was to go to Newmarket for the Kilvington as a prep for the Commonwealth Cup. The form from the Lowther was obviously rock solid in the Commonwealth Cup with Time For Sandals winning, so it was pretty heartbreaking being sidelined with a throat infection which dragged on and on. 'We got her back for York in the Summer Stakes, she ran a big race. She was hassled all the way, which wasn't ideal. She didn't get the kind of easy lead she likes but still battled on well to finish third and proved that she's trained on and she's back. 'She had a good blow and she'll come on a lot for that run. I'm not afraid to bring her back to five, so I think she'll be a danger in a wide-open sprint division.'
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Asfoora carrying plenty of stable confidence for second crack at Goodwood sprint
The Antipodean speedster stuck around on British soil after her famous Royal Ascot win in the King Charles III Stakes last year and although out of luck at this year's Royal meeting, her team are confident of bettering last year's short-head defeat on Friday. Dwyer said: 'The conditions of the race are a lot more suitable this year and she has a bit less weight without the Group One penalty she had last year and the main opposition, Time For Sandals and Big Mojo, both have quite a bit of weight for their age and are dropping back from six furlongs to five furlongs. Big Evs gets back to winning ways in the King George Qatar Stakes, driven all the way by @TomMarquand to repel the challenge of Asfoora 👏@Q_REC | @MickApplebyUK — Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) August 2, 2024 'So I think the race sets up well for us, it's just a case of whether she can find her best and if she finds it, I think she goes very close to winning and if she's for some reason a length or two below her best, I still think she will still be right there. 'She's nice and relaxed again after Ascot and we gave her two weeks out in the paddock after that to help her settle in a bit more and she seems in a good space. 'I think there's definitely more to come and I do think she will improve again in three weeks' time for York, but she's on an upward curve and is going the right way and hopefully she is in very good shape for this race.' It was Mick Appleby's Big Evs who denied Asfoora in this last year and the Rutland handler, who has formed a great friendship with his Australian counterpart, looks to be a thorn in Dwyer's side once again with July Stakes runner-up and course and distance scorer Big Mojo. 'He's in great order and hopefully we can go and win the race again,' said Appleby. 'He's got plenty of pace and I think at Goodwood it will definitely suit him dropping back to five furlongs and on form he should have a very good chance. 'Asfoora is probably the one to beat, but I think we will be thereabouts anyway.' Joining Big Mojo in reverting back to five furlongs is Time For Sandals who was one half of Harry Eustace's memorable Royal Ascot Group One double when landing the Commonwealth Cup. However, like Appleby, the Newmarket handler has few concerns about the shorter distance and said: 'The big question mark is obviously going back to a sharp five for her having won over a stiff six at Ascot. 'Personally, I don't think it will be a problem and Richard (Kingscote) is pretty positive she'll be fine over it too, but if we're going to find her out this year it will be in this race.' Also expected to thrive on one of the fastest five-furlong tracks in the country is Karl Burke's Night Raider who is backed to showcase his blistering cruising speed. 'When we were buying him I always thought this was the race for him,' said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing. 'He's very fast and Goodwood is a very quick five as we know. It didn't work at Ascot for him, but I do think this will be right up his alley.' Meanwhile Ed Walker's Lowther Stakes winner Celandine will bid to make up for lost time after being kept on the sidelines in the first half of the season. 'It's been a very frustrating year with her so far,' said Walker. 'The plan was to go to Newmarket for the Kilvington as a prep for the Commonwealth Cup. The form from the Lowther was obviously rock solid in the Commonwealth Cup with Time For Sandals winning, so it was pretty heartbreaking being sidelined with a throat infection which dragged on and on. 'We got her back for York in the Summer Stakes, she ran a big race. She was hassled all the way, which wasn't ideal. She didn't get the kind of easy lead she likes but still battled on well to finish third and proved that she's trained on and she's back. 'She had a good blow and she'll come on a lot for that run. I'm not afraid to bring her back to five, so I think she'll be a danger in a wide-open sprint division.'
