Will Kodi Bear prove his return to form in Newbury's richest race of the season?
An alert Kodi Bear - woth Head Lad Martin Berry who rides him outKodi Bear, a four-year-old colt who nearly lost his life last year to a very serious infection, is looking in peak condition once again - and set to take on the top flight entry for Newbury's Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes on Saturday (May 14.)
With £350,000 in prize money, this Group One contest run over Newbury's straight mile will be the highlight of the Al Shaqab Lockinge Day. A total £750,000 in prize money at stake makes this Newbury's most valuable race day.
The Irish-bred Kodi Bear, who won Goodwood's Group Two Celebration Mile in 2015, will be up against what his Lambourn trainer Clive Cox calls 'pretty tasty' opposition: "It will be a very hot race...It'll be a very interesting race."
Among that opposition is the ante-post favourite Limato - trained at Henry Candy's Wantage yard. Other favoured contenders include Marlborough-trained Toormore from Richard Hannon's yard. Toormore was second in the race last year and on Saturday will be one of five possible starters for owners Godolphin.
This will be Kodi Bear's seasonal debut. Last year he won three of his five starts. He was being prepared for the 2,000 Guineas when he was hit by the infection.
Clive Cox, Kodi Bear, Martin BerryHis trainer Clive Cox: "For a couple of days we were very concerned and he was pretty sick for a week." It seems he picked up an MRSA-like bug following a small swelling on a leg, but with antibiotics and his strong constitution he has overcome it.
His last outing was in October at Ascot in the Qipco Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. He was obviously not on his best form and in a tight finish came home eighth in a field of nine.
Trainer Clive Cox During a visit to Clive Cox's yard, he reaffirmed his faith in the fully recovered Kodi Bear: "We all believe he's a group one horse. He's always been a horse that performed at the highest level. Potentially he's my best horse ever - as a miler."
Cox said he hoped Kodi Bear would do well for his owner Mrs Olive Shaw whose husband had been one of the trainer's 'biggest supporters'.
Cox, a former and successful jump jockey, has been training under licence since 1992. One of his most successful horses to date has been Lethal Force who won the 2013 Royal Ascot's Diamond Jubilee Stakes and the Darley Cup at Newmarket.
At present the ground on Newbury Racecourse is 'good to firm, good in places' - and that is after six millimetres of overnight (Monday-Tuesday) rain. Having lost their first flat meeting of the season due to waterlogged ground, three weeks later they were wondering whether they would have to water the mile.
As it is this weekend will see racing on turf that was last raced in October: "It's virgin grass." Newbury's Andy Clifton says: "It'll be perfect flat racing ground." Since then it has been raining some more...
How will the recent rain affect Kodi Bear? "Undoubtedly," says Clive Cox, "he's versatile when it comes to ground - he'll have no concerns over softer ground."
Newbury's Friday race card will almost certainly include the first of Frankel's offspring to compete on a racecourse. Since he retired to stud at the end of 2012, Frankel has so far sired 111 foals at a covering charge of £125,000 for each mare.
Those foals have aroused great interest at the sales. But it is thought the foals are at present taking more after their mothers than after Frankel. However, it should be remembered that only the top range of mares will be put to such a costly stallion as Frankel.