Key questions as Summer Sands tries to prove Middle Park third was no fluke

2.55 Redcar
Racing TV Redcar Two Year Old Trophy | Listed | 6f, 2yo | ITV4/RTV

Can Summer Sands exploit light weight?

Summer Sands is likely to be sent off the shortest-priced favourite since the high-class Limato five years ago as he bids to prove his third in last week's Group 1 Middle Park Stakes was no fluke.

Sent off an unconsidered 100-1 shot at Newmarket, Summer Sands belied the odds when beaten just two lengths behind the unbeaten Earthlight with the likes of Threat and Mums Tipple in arrears.

Put up 13lb to a mark of 109 after that excellent effort, the Richard Fahey-trained juvenile runs here off the second-bottom weight of 8st 3lb due to the conditions of the race.

Fahey trod a similar path with Darkanna, who was fifth in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes seven days before before winning this contest in 2017.

Summer Sands is one of three Fahey-trained runners in the line-up, the others being the busy Dylan De Vega and the outsider Hartswood.

The trainer said: "Summer Sands comes here off the back of a big run in the Middle Park. He must be the one to beat with 8st 3lb on his back even on his form prior to Newmarket. He seems to have come out of last week’s run in great shape. I don’t know how deep the ground is going to be but I wouldn’t be afraid of soft going for him."

On his other pair, he added: "Dylan De Vega still has to prove he truly stays six furlongs but he’s one of the higher-rated horses in the race if he does and is very capable. Hartswood got off the mark at Thirsk last time and is a progressive colt. He could improve again but I’d be a little surprised if he beat Summer Sands."

Will Dods start big weekend with a bang?

Fahey is not the only trainer three-handed in the sprint as Troubador heads a trio from Michael Dods, who has a big weekend ahead with Mabs Cross bidding for a Prix de l'Abbaye repeat at Longchamp on Sunday.

Troubador racked up a hat-trick before going down by just a neck to Owney Madden in a valuable 20-runner nursery at York last time.

Given a break to be freshened up for this race, he is a course-and-distance winner on good to firm ground but has also scored on good to soft.

Dodds also fields outsiders Leapers Wood and Shadow Leader.

What they say

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Amarillo Star
He should probably have won at Ascot last time but he had nothing to take him into the race long enough and may have been in front too long. He's as tough as old boots and will love the ground but if Mr Fahey's horse turns up in the form he was in last week we're all playing for places.

Karl Burke, trainer of Dubai Station
He dragged his hind legs through the path in the Gimcrack Stakes last time and wrenched himself. Before that he finished third behind the Middle Park winner Earthlight at Deauville and he’s one to look forward to for next year.

Mark Johnston, trainer of Praxeology and Desert Safari
The race looks very competitive on ratings and we may be racing on extreme ground, which is an unknown for both, but Praxeology has shown he handles soft and that's encouraging. Desert Safari has only raced on the all-weather, so this is very much an unknown for him.

Tom Dascombe, trainer of Know No Limits
She's been a very tough filly throughout the year but looks up against it taking on some of these colts. On the plus side, the ground won't bother her and she only has to carry 8st 4lb, which will help given the conditions.

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