Trainer George Peckham hopes that his progressive 2-year-old Semoum can complete a career hat-trick with victory in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes on Friday.
The son of Bernardini has won his last two starts – a novice event at Ripon and a head success in an Ascot nursery. If 90-rated Semoum is to complete a three-timer, so landing the majority of the £225,000 pot, he will have to step up considerably on what he has shown so far on the racecourse
But Peckham said: “He is a colt we have always liked. He is a good looker and his homework from the beginning has been very good.
“I thought he’d win more impressively than he did at Ascot but they went no gallop which didn’t really suit him.
“He has won his last two and deserves to be stepped up in grade. The sharper track should suit him – he has a lot of pace and I think he’s the type to run better in a better race.
“It’s fantastic prize money and this is where we want to be competing. Malih (Al Basti) sponsors – he is a good friend of the yard – it’s a great meeting and we are really looking forward to coming.”
With a prize fund of £225,000 it is the richest G2 for 2-year-old colts held in the UK. And it is a race with a fine tradition. Even, in recent times it has been won by subsequent G1 stars Blue Point and Muhaarar in 2016 and 2014 respectively.