Murtagh hopeful True Valour can score from stall one in Del Mar raid

4.30am Del Mar
Eddie Read Stakes | 1m | Group 2 | 3yo+

Johnny Murtagh was never afraid to think outside the box during his riding days but, while he has continued that approach into his new life as a trainer, he credits the spotting of a suitable and valuable Group 2 on the other side of the world for True Valour to owner Sheikh Fahad.

The improving four-year-old son of Kodiac was a Listed winner at three and has continued to progress with age, comfortably justifying favouritism in the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes on his most recent start last month.

Jamie Spencer teams up with True Valour for the first time as the colt, who wears the Qatar Racing silks, contests the $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar in California on Sunday.

Murtagh reported: "He's travelled over great and I couldn't be happier with him. He's in great form.

"Del Mar is quite a tight track so to get stall one is a big bonus. It's a good race, though, and it'll take a bit of winning.

Johnny Murtagh: 'Stall one is a big bonus'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"It was Sheikh Fahad who spotted the race, so he deserves all the credit for that. Let's hope it pays off. Everything has gone according to plan so far anyway."

True Valour is due to face ten rivals headed by Itsinthepost, winner of the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita in May on his last start.

Monomoy Girl bids for fourth successive top-flight success

The Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks is the feature race of Saragota’s Sunday card, for which five go to post.

Despite the small field this nine-furlong contest looks an intriguing one, as three of the five starters are graded stakes winners, and the other two have placed at the top level.

Unbeaten in 2018, Monomoy Girl heads the line up, having already won three Grade 1s, including the Kentucky Oaks.

She and Triple Crown winner Justify are the only horses with three or more top-level wins in the United States this year.

Monomoy Girl edging out Wonder Gadot in the Kentucky OaksCredit: Sean M. Haffey (Getty Images)

Trainer Brad Cox said: “I’m sure there’ll be a time when we’ll be able to sit down and digest it. She’s just a very special filly and she means a lot to us.

“She’s done a lot for us and we hope to get to the Breeders’ Cup with her, hopefully she can become a champion and win an Eclipse.”

Her mere presence has undoubtedly scared off a number of potential runners, but Midnight Bisou's connections have taken up the gauntlet.

The filly has four graded stakes wins to her credit and her only defeat this year came when finishing third in the Kentucky Oaks, where she endured a troubled trip.

Owned by Bloom Racing, Midnight Bisou moved to trainer Steven Asmussen in June and made a winning debut for the yard in the Grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes last time.

Jeff Bloom, founder of Bloom Racing, said: "She came out of her most recent race in such great shape, and it didn't really take anything out of her.

"It's not like our filly has had an ultra-hard campaign, and the nice thing about the Coaching Club is it gives her the opportunity to get a race over the track ahead of the Alabama.”

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