Denton Hall News

Dakota Gold 'as fit as we can get him' ahead of seasonal bow

TRAINER Michael Dods says prolific winner Dakota Gold is "as fit as we can get him at home" ahead of his first run of the season at Doncaster on Sunday.

Michael has assessed the chances of the star gelding (main picture) in the listed Achilles Stakes as part of his regular 'Weekend Preview' on his Facebook page. Here's what he says...

"A busy weekend ahead with nine runners, including Dakota Gold's first run of the season on Sunday.

We kick off, however, with SHADOW LEADER in the Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap over six furlongs at Doncaster. He had a couple of runs as a two-year-old and he's a nice little horse who'll pick up a win when it's his turn. He'll enjoy the ground and will get seven furlongs in time. He's a very straightforward horse and, hopefully, he'll go well.

Our next runner is MAGISTERIUM making her debut in the Betway British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies Novice Stakes, again over the Doncaster six furlongs. She's a nice big filly who will improve a lot for the run. There's both speed and stamina in her pedigree and we like her.

GALE FORCE MAYA, below, goes next at Donny in the Betway Casino Handicap over seven furlongs. She did us proud last season, winning four times and running some really good races in defeat too. We would much rather run her over six furlongs but that's not been possible so we thought we'd give her a run over seven to knock the cobwebs off. This could stretch her stamina, so we're looking forward to getting her on better ground over six furlongs.

DANIELSFLYER and BYRON'S CHOICE both go in the Betway Handicap over a straight mile at Doncaster. We'd have preferred to run them both over seven furlongs but there wasn't a race for them at that distance and we wanted to get them out. Neither will mind the softer ground but the mile will stretch the stamina of both of them.

Away from Doncaster, AMERICA FIRST runs in the West Knighton Handicap at Leicester. He was a bit weak as a two-year-old last season and the step up to 1m 2f will suit. We could see him staying further in time. He's been working well and, hopefully, he'll settle and put in a decent run.

On Sunday, we're back at Doncaster with three runners, starting with debutante DIAMONDONTHEHILL in the Betway British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes. He's a nice horse and will improve significantly for this run. It's his first day at school and there hasn't been the opportunity of a racecourse gallop so you don't know how they'll cope. Whatever he does on his first run, we think he has ability and a nice future.

CAMACHO CHIEF, below, goes next in the Betway Handicap, back over five furlongs after a decent run to be fourth of 11 on the all-weather at Newcastle over six. He seems to have come on for that recent run and we know he likes cut in the ground. It's a competitive race but he should run well.

And last but by no means least of our weekend runners, we have DAKOTA GOLD making his seasonal bow in the listed Achilles Stakes over five furlongs. He was a real star for us last season and he's as fit as we can get him at home. He'll come on for the run, and it's a long season, but he seems in good form and won't mind the ground.

Just a quick word about TROUBADOR, who runs on Monday at Pontefract. He's going to need a few runs because he's a bit stuffy and the all-weather didn't suit on his seasonal debut at Newcastle. That said, he'll find his level and he should be winning soon with a bit of luck."