News
Coronation aim for Rain
William Haggas is aiming his brilliant filly Dancing Rain at the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June.
The four-year-old enjoyed a superb Classic campaign, winning the Oaks at Epsom and proving that was no fluke with victories in the German equivalent and in the British Champions Fillies' And Mares' Stakes at Ascot. She disappointed on her final start of the year in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup in Japan, but Haggas is happy to forgive her that blip.
The handler said: "She's just started cantering and she's in great form. She didn't fire in Japan but it was just one of those end of term runs a long way from home. It just didn't happen for her that day. That was the first time she's disappointed us, so she's done us proud really."
He added: "It's hard to say whether she's improved, but she's got to be stronger. They rarely go backwards from three to four, so we'll see. We're planning to go to the Coronation Cup on her first start at Epsom. That is the skeleton plan at the moment."
One-time Classic hope Fury is set for the traditional Flat season curtain-raiser, the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster on March 31.
Unbeaten as a juvenile, Fury finished fifth behind Frankel in last year's 2000 Guineas and while he ran well to finish second at Sandown next time, his three subsequent starts were disappointing.
Haggas is no stranger to Lincoln glory, saddling High Low (1992), Very Wise (2007) and Penitent (2010) to win in South Yorkshire.
He said: "That's (the Lincoln) the idea. If we can get him back to his two-year-old form, or even his run in the Heron Stakes at Sandown, he's potentially well treated, but that is a big 'if'. We'll be doing our best anyway."
