Thesecretadversary primed for City of York action

Fozzy Stack’s stable star has gone from strength to strength, starting his campaign with a Group Three win at Leopardstown before running in the both the English and Irish Guineas and then adding the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot to his CV.

The St Mark’s Basilica colt’s crowning moment to date came last month when he gave Stack his first European Group One triumph in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville after making all in the hands of Christophe Soumillon.

The Thomastown Castle handler now plans another assault at the elite level over seven furlongs on the Knavesmire on August 22.

“It’s all going according to plan with him, he will be back in York,” Stack said.

“On the day (at Deauville), where he was drawn, the stalls were right up against the rail and Christophe said there wasn’t much pace, so we jumped out to make somebody go a little bit faster and follow them, but we ended up in front.

“The City of York Stakes is the plan.”

Meanwhile, unbeaten stablemate Nola Soul will look to cement his name among the best juveniles in the Coolmore Stud Futurity Stakes at the Curragh, on what could be a remarkable day for his trainer.

“All good with him and if it all goes to plan with him, he’ll run in the Futurity at the Curragh,” Stack added.

“The race at Leopardstown has worked out well as the second and third have both won stakes. The Ascot form seems to be working out as well. Hopefully it bodes well.

“We will see how we get on, he’s quite a big horse so we try to space out his races. He wouldn’t want soft ground so if the weather changes we won’t see him again.”