Diligent Harry bids to confirm his standing as one of the all-weather’s top sprinters with victory in the Listed Midnite Kachy Stakes (2.50pm) at Lingfield Park on Saturday, January 31.
A two-time winner on Finals Day for Clive Cox, the eight-year-old landed the six-furlong contest in 2024 and secured a first Pattern race victory in the G3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle in June.
Third in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in 2024, Diligent Harry will be making his fourth consecutive appearance in the Midnite Kachy Stakes, having also finished a neck second in 2023 and fourth last year.
Cox said: “Diligent Harry is a multiple course and distance winner, so we know he enjoys the track, and he won this race two years ago on the back of a break.
“He may be an eight-year-old now but is showing me more than enough enthusiasm in the mornings. We have been really pleased with his training, although I would expect him to step forward for the run.
“We were thrilled to get his Group Three win up at Newcastle. That performance proved he retains all of his ability and, with a bit of luck, he can show his wellbeing at the weekend.”
Diligent Harry is part of a competitive lineup for the Midnite Kachy Stakes, with Andrew Balding’s Cool Hoof Luke making his first appearance since beating Shadow Of Light in the G2 Gimcrack Stakes in 2024.
Ferrous finished third behind Diligent Harry in the G3 Chipchase Stakes, having previously won three valuable all-weather handicaps on the bounce. Trained by Jack Channon, the six-year-old bids to win first time out for the third year in a row.
Karl Burke has won the Midnite Kachy Stakes five times and the Middleham trainer looks to extend his fine record with last year’s victor Marshman, who fluffed the start when seventh on his comeback in the Listed Golden Rose Stakes at Southwell in November.
South African sprinter Golden Sickle is an intriguing debutant for George Boughey. The five-year-old mare was a close second in the past two editions of the G1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein.
Harry Charlton’s Completely Random takes a deserved rise in class, having clocked a fast time when sweeping to a near four-length victory in a course and distance handicap earlier this month.
Fellow course scorer Accrual lines up in the Kachy colours of owner Dave Lowe, while Wolverhampton handicap winner Stratusnine completes the field for Hugo Palmer.
Elsewhere on the card, top-class mare Survie makes her first appearance for George Boughey in the Midnite Winter Derby Trial Conditions Stakes (1.05pm).
Second in the 2024 Prix de Diane for Nicolas Clement, Survie placed in two more G1 contests last year – finishing third in the Pretty Polly Stakes and second in the Prix Jean Romanet.
The daughter of Churchill, who will now race in the colours of Doreen Tabor, joined the Newmarket trainer after going through the ring for 1.9m guineas at Tattersalls in December.
Survie lines up against Military Academy, who finished second in last year’s G3 Winter Derby, and Rosebery Handicap victor Teumessias Fox.
Boughey told Sky Sports Racing: “Survie is a long way clear on ratings. It had been the plan to get her away before she goes to Saudi [for the Neom Turf Cup] and this looks the perfect spot.
“Although last season did not finish on the best note on very soft ground, her runs over 10 furlongs in the Prix Jean Romanet and in Ireland were probably her two best performances. Fast ground is what she wants in my opinion and we are very happy with how she has trained.
“Ryan [Moore] rode her a few weeks ago at Chelmsford and was happy with her. She is not a particularly hard filly to get ready and, having had four months off, this will be a stepping stone to a big pot in Saudi.”
On Golden Sickle in the Midnite Kachy Stakes, Boughey added: “Golden Sickle is an interesting filly because I do not have a guide on her. She came over in the summer and took a bit of time to acclimatise.
“Five furlongs is probably her optimum trip, but she is ready to go now. She is quite fiery and I did not know whether we would be able to keep a lid on her until the Hever Stakes in three weeks’ time, so this is a bit of a sighter.
“She is owned by some Australian owners, who understand the process of it being her first-up run. I watched her South African runs again and she is pretty electric out of the gates. In a sense, the soft six furlongs at Lingfield should suit and I hope she can show that she is up to competing at this level on our terms.”
