Dakota Gold bidding for Listed honours as Ayr Gold Cup plans hang in the balance

LNER Supporting CALM Garrowby Stakes (Listed) | 6f | RTV

Anyone who has grabbed a fancy ante-post price about the Ayr Gold Cup favourite may want to watch Dakota Gold from behind the sofa on Sunday.

The Michael Dods-trained sprinter has leapfrogged to the top of the betting for Scotland's richest Flat race after showing much improved form of late.

He ran away with the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon last month and followed up in a £70,000 handicap at York four days later.

But that most recent success has caused Dods to have second thoughts about Ayr and to aim the five-year-old at this £50,000 Listed event.

William Hill Ayr Gold Cup card and betting

"The biggest problem with Ayr is that the weights were published before he won at York, so on top of his weight he's got a 5lb penalty," the trainer said on Saturday.

"That's puts him in there with 9st 12lb and that's why we're running tomorrow because we're not sure what we'll do about Ayr, where he's 3lb wrong at the weights with his penalty.

"I'd say if he won tomorrow we wouldn't be going to Ayr. If he doesn't win we could think about it, but he's not the biggest to carry that sort of weight."

Another victory at York would give Dakota Gold a penalty of 8lb rather than 5lb at Ayr a week next Saturday.

He is the highest rated horse in the field judged on Racing Post and BHA ratings and Dods said: "I hope the ground doesn't dry up, but he's in good form and he's stepping up in to Listed company, so we'll see how he copes with it.

"Off his handicap mark there's not a lot of choice for him. He's 109 and he deserves a chance in this grade."

Perfection is already proven at this level, having won the Listed Flying Fillies' Stakes at Pontefract last month.

"She's been in good form all year," said trainer David O'Meara. "She won nicely last time with the visor on and I'd be hopeful of a good run."

Rock On Baileys was second in a Listed race at Chester early last month and was beaten just a head and neck into third place in similar company at Newmarket last time.

"She's run two mighty races," said trainer Amy Murphy. "She was unlucky at Newmarket, where she hit the front a bit soon. It was just the way the race panned out as she came through them a bit quick and she needs to be delivered late.

"This race should suit her and she should run well. It's great she's getting black type for her owner/breeders and it would be nice if she could pick one up."

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