UK: Murtagh Falls For Saigon

Saigon will benefit from the services of Johnny Murtagh when the two-year-old colt lines up for the biggest test of his career in the G1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The prestigious six-furlong contest is one of the feature races at the inaugural Dubai Future Champions Day at the Rowley Mile Course and James Toller's charge is in fine fettle for the race.

Saigon was less than a length behind Caspar Netscher when third to the Gimcrack Stakes victor in the Group Two Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes over the distance at Newbury on September 17.

That result was a turn around of Saigon's Listed triumph over six furlongs at the Berkshire course in July when Caspar Netscher was second, a neck behind his rival.

Toller revealed today: "Saigon has come out of his last race and seems in very good form. I hope the ground remains on the fast side as he has shown his best form on top of the ground.

"Obviously, it is a tough race but I think he deserves to take his chance and will definitely have an each-way chance.

"We have booked Johnny Murtagh for the ride - you need the best in these races."

Saturday's inaugural Dubai Future Champions Day offers an outstanding seven-race card that also features Britain's premier seven-furlong race for two-year-old colts, the £317,000 Group One Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (3.10pm).

Also featured are the £80,000 Group Two Burj Khalifa Challenge Stakes (2.05pm) over seven furlongs, the £60,000 Group Two Vision.ae Rockfel Stakes (4.25pm) over the same trip for two-year-old fillies, the £34,000 Group Three Autumn Stakes (5pm) for juveniles over a mile, the £50,000 Group Three Darley Stakes (5.35pm) over nine furlongs and the historic heritage handicap, the two and a quarter-mile £160,000 Betfred Cesarewitch (3.50pm).


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