Latest news with #DylanCunha
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Prague pencilled in for double York Racecourse visit
Prague will visit York twice this Summer, starting today at today's races. (Image: PA) DYLAN Cunha has pencilled in for Prague to visit York Racecourse twice this Summer – starting with a shot at this Saturday's £100,000 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Criterion Stakes. It is the first time the Knavesmire has ever staged this Group 3 race (previously held at Newmarket) so, as part of a wider strengthening of its seven-furlong programme, it will give the winner a free entry* into the Group One Sky Bet City of York Stakes on Saturday 23 August. Advertisement The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Criterion Stakes will also be the first time Prague has been tested at this distance. If it proves a success, Newmarket-based Cunha will bring back his stable star for that £600,000 Sky Bet City of York Stakes, which is set to be staged as a Group One for the first time. Otherwise, the trainer will target the nine-furlong Group 3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes, scheduled for the same card at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival. This weekend's fact-finding mission sees Prague back in action, having not been seen on a racecourse since British Champions Day at Ascot last October. The five-year-old proved a real star for connections in 2024, finishing second in the Group 3 Superior Mile Stakes at Haydock before winning the Group 2 Joel Stakes over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket. Advertisement As a result, Prague must carry 9st 13lb – 5lb more than any other horse in the 13-strong entry. Cunha said: 'He's in great form – as well as I've ever seen him. He's training really well. 'The drop to seven furlongs is just that he's quite keen in his races – we just want to teach him to settle. "We've been going a mile and a mile and a quarter with him, but his mother was actually a six-furlong Group 3 winner. 'We're thinking he might just be that keen because we might be going too far with him. So, it's an experiment. "If he runs in the first two, he'll go to the City of York. If it's too short, he'll run in the Strensall. Advertisement "He's definitely going to York twice in the next two months!' Cunha had hoped to have Jim Crowley aboard Prague for his seasonal bow, but the jockey looks likely to be required elsewhere by Shadwell, who retain him. Instead, Prague will be ridden for the first time by Kieran Shoemark. Cunha said: 'Jim would have ridden him, but he's booked for Shadwell. So, Kieran then messaged for the ride and I said, 'Absolutely'. He rides quite a bit for us – so, a great replacement for Jim.' The trainer enjoys visiting York where Silver Sword gave him a first high-profile success at the 2023 Ebor Festival. Advertisement And Cunha has fingers crossed Prague can put him back in the same winner's circle on Saturday. He said: 'He'll jump out, go forward and he'll be sitting in the first three or four and hopefully run a huge race for us.' Saturday's seven-race card starts at 1.55pm with the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Mile Handicap.
Glasgow Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Prague has Epsom target following Lockinge defection
Dylan Cunha's stable star was poised to make his comeback in Saturday's Newbury Group One, but was declared a non-runner on Friday morning. 'He just had a temperature and he will be fine and probably be back cantering tomorrow, but he just can't run and you can't take a chance with a temperature, not in this league anyway,' said Cunha. 'We've taken two out in the last two weeks already like this and it's just one of those things and bugs go around at this time of year, but he will be back.' Prague holds an entry for the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot next month, but the Phantom House Stables handler is first eyeing getting the five-year-old back in action in the Betfred Diomed Stakes on June 7 before loftier assignments are considered. Cunha added: 'He will be fine and we might get him out at Epsom on Derby day in the Diomed. 'We'll probably go to Epsom and then we'll take it from there. It's frustrating for a small yard to miss such a race as the Lockinge, but it is what it is and there's nothing we can do.' Cunha is also looking forward to new recruit Valley Of The Kings hitting the track having arrived in Newmarket from the handler's native South Africa. He said: 'He's unraced and he looks like a lovely horse and moves nicely. 'We've had him going up Warren Hill and he arrived pretty fit, so we hope he will be out in the next four weeks or so.'
North Wales Chronicle
17-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Prague has Epsom target following Lockinge defection
Dylan Cunha's stable star was poised to make his comeback in Saturday's Newbury Group One, but was declared a non-runner on Friday morning. 'He just had a temperature and he will be fine and probably be back cantering tomorrow, but he just can't run and you can't take a chance with a temperature, not in this league anyway,' said Cunha. 'We've taken two out in the last two weeks already like this and it's just one of those things and bugs go around at this time of year, but he will be back.' Prague holds an entry for the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot next month, but the Phantom House Stables handler is first eyeing getting the five-year-old back in action in the Betfred Diomed Stakes on June 7 before loftier assignments are considered. Cunha added: 'He will be fine and we might get him out at Epsom on Derby day in the Diomed. 'We'll probably go to Epsom and then we'll take it from there. It's frustrating for a small yard to miss such a race as the Lockinge, but it is what it is and there's nothing we can do.' Cunha is also looking forward to new recruit Valley Of The Kings hitting the track having arrived in Newmarket from the handler's native South Africa. He said: 'He's unraced and he looks like a lovely horse and moves nicely. 'We've had him going up Warren Hill and he arrived pretty fit, so we hope he will be out in the next four weeks or so.'
Rhyl Journal
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Prague has Epsom target following Lockinge defection
Dylan Cunha's stable star was poised to make his comeback in Saturday's Newbury Group One, but was declared a non-runner on Friday morning. 'He just had a temperature and he will be fine and probably be back cantering tomorrow, but he just can't run and you can't take a chance with a temperature, not in this league anyway,' said Cunha. 'We've taken two out in the last two weeks already like this and it's just one of those things and bugs go around at this time of year, but he will be back.' Prague holds an entry for the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot next month, but the Phantom House Stables handler is first eyeing getting the five-year-old back in action in the Betfred Diomed Stakes on June 7 before loftier assignments are considered. Cunha added: 'He will be fine and we might get him out at Epsom on Derby day in the Diomed. 'We'll probably go to Epsom and then we'll take it from there. It's frustrating for a small yard to miss such a race as the Lockinge, but it is what it is and there's nothing we can do.' Cunha is also looking forward to new recruit Valley Of The Kings hitting the track having arrived in Newmarket from the handler's native South Africa. He said: 'He's unraced and he looks like a lovely horse and moves nicely. 'We've had him going up Warren Hill and he arrived pretty fit, so we hope he will be out in the next four weeks or so.'
South Wales Guardian
16-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Prague has Epsom target following Lockinge defection
Dylan Cunha's stable star was poised to make his comeback in Saturday's Newbury Group One, but was declared a non-runner on Friday morning. 'He just had a temperature and he will be fine and probably be back cantering tomorrow, but he just can't run and you can't take a chance with a temperature, not in this league anyway,' said Cunha. 'We've taken two out in the last two weeks already like this and it's just one of those things and bugs go around at this time of year, but he will be back.' Prague holds an entry for the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot next month, but the Phantom House Stables handler is first eyeing getting the five-year-old back in action in the Betfred Diomed Stakes on June 7 before loftier assignments are considered. Cunha added: 'He will be fine and we might get him out at Epsom on Derby day in the Diomed. 'We'll probably go to Epsom and then we'll take it from there. It's frustrating for a small yard to miss such a race as the Lockinge, but it is what it is and there's nothing we can do.' Cunha is also looking forward to new recruit Valley Of The Kings hitting the track having arrived in Newmarket from the handler's native South Africa. He said: 'He's unraced and he looks like a lovely horse and moves nicely. 'We've had him going up Warren Hill and he arrived pretty fit, so we hope he will be out in the next four weeks or so.'
