Star Witness Set To Tackle Next Month’s July Cup

Star Witness

Star Witness will compete in the July Cup at Newmarket

Danny O’Brien’s Star Witness will remain in England in order to compete in the Group 1 July Cup that will take place at Newmarket Racecourse next month.

Star Witness finished second in his first English run in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes and backed it up with a third placing in last Tuesday’s Golden Jubilee at Ascot behind Irish horse Society Rock.

O’Brien said that he had always planned an English campaign that comprised of three runs.

“I brought him over with the intention of running him three times so I would think we would go for the July Cup now,” O’Brien said.

The trainer feels that Star Witness is adjusting well to his new surroundings.

“This horse is really enjoying Newmarket and we are enjoying being part of the big races over the summer,” he said.

“He’s got three weeks now to the (July Cup) and in the time he’s been at Newmarket he’s thrived.

“We’d love to win there and we’d love to come back here (Ascot) and win.”

Star Witness’ jockey, Steven Arnold, is confident his horse has a winning chance in the £400,000 July Cup.

Arnold put Star Witness’ last start defeat down to the tough track conditions.

“He travelled like the winner beneath me going into the last 400 metres (in the Golden Jubilee),” Arnold said.

“Inside the last 100 though he just was bottomed out, he felt gassed and the last 50 was a real struggle.

“I think I’d attribute our defeat to the testing ground and in conditions like that you really need a horse that can get 1400 metres.

“The horse ran really well and that’s the game.

“You win some and you lose a lot.”

Star Witness will be the first horse to compete in the King Stand Stakes, Golden Jubilee and the July Cup since Takeover Target in 2006.

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