Haydock next for Magical Memory
The grey started the season in explosive form but has since found life harder on his last two appearances but connections are confident he can get back to winning ways
MAGICAL MEMORY is being geared up for a second crack at the Sprint Cup ahead of a possible trip to America for the Breeders' Cup.
The Charlie Hills-trained grey was a close third in the Haydock feature in 2015 and will try to go two places better on September 3 and gain his first Group One success.
After starting the season off in tremendous style with victories in Newmarket's Abernant Stakes and the Duke of York Stakes at York, Magical Memory has fallen short in two attempts at the top level.
Fourth in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot, he was a never-nearer seventh in the July Cup at Newmarket, though he did appear to have an excuse for that slightly under-par effort.
"He's good and is going for the Haydock Sprint Cup. He's still in the Nunthorpe but he'll probably go straight to Haydock with a view to considering the Breeders' Cup Sprint afterwards," said Sam Hoskins, racing manager for owners, Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds.
"He's in the British Champions Sprint at Ascot as well, but we might lean towards America, especially if he runs well at Haydock.
"He was third in the Sprint Cup last year and hopefully he can show his true mettle there.
"He had a little break after Newmarket where things didn't go right.
"In Group One races so far he hasn't had the rub of the green. He hit the front too soon in last year's Sprint Cup. At Royal Ascot, he broke slowly and was a bit too far back.
"And in his last race he had an interrupted run and hit the ridges at Newmarket. He also did bang himself in the race and was off for 10 days afterwards.
"He'll go to Haydock where he might be slightly under the radar compared to his last couple of runs."
The Kennet Valley-owned Bohemian Flame is being aimed at a valuable sales race following two respectable efforts in Pattern and Listed company.
Andrew Balding's youngster is going to try his luck in the Weatherbys Hamilton £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes at Doncaster on September 8.
Since making a successful racecourse debut at Salisbury in May, the Zoffany colt has taken on quality company.
Third to Global Applause in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown, Bohemian Flame was seventh of nine to Mehmas in the Group Two July Stakes at Newmarket.
"He goes for the Weatherbys sales race next month," said Hoskins.
"He ran in the July Stakes last time and he's a good horse."
