Denton Hall News

Dakota Gold has 'tough task' on last outing of the season

TRAINER Michael Dods has warned that Dakota Gold faces a tough task on his last run of the season if veteran sprinter Brando repeats his most recent form on Champions' Day at Ascot.

The pair head the betting for the listed Betfair Wentworth Stakes over six furlongs at Doncaster, and Michael reports that Dakota Gold (main picture) remains in good form.

However, he has to give five pounds to the Kevin Ryan-trained Brando, who was only beaten a nose by Glen Shiel in the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot.

Michael said: "You'd have to say if Brando puts up the same performance as he did on Champions' Day at Ascot last time, he's going to be very hard to beat."

The trainer goes into more detail about Dakota Gold, as well as Get Knotted and Byron's Choice, in the regular Weekend Preview below:

WEEKEND PREVIEW

'We've reached the last Saturday of what's been a challenging but ultimately successful Flat season and we have three runners at Doncaster Racecourse. DAKOTA GOLD runs in the listed Betfair Wentworth Stakes over six furlongs and he's again done us proud this season.

Two listed wins and a Group 3 victory in the Coral Bengough Stakes over six furlongs at York is another great return, and he'll stay in training as a seven-year-old next season.

The Doncaster race is again over six furlongs but he's got a penalty to carry in what's a hot contest. You'd have to say if Kevin Ryan's Brando puts up the same performance as he did on Champions' Day at Ascot last time, he's going to be very hard to beat. He was only beaten a nose by Glen Shiel in the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes, and Dakota Gold's now got to give him five pounds.

With Connor Beasley in Dubai, Paul Mulrennan takes the ride for the first time. The horse is in good form for what will be his last run of the season, he'll have his favoured soft ground, and he owes us nothing.

Then we have GET KNOTTED AND BYRON'S CHOICE both running in the Ryan Moore Columns On Betting Betfair Apprentice Handicap (Future Apprentice Stars Series). It's again at Doncaster, this time over seven furlongs, and it's another competitive race.

Our stable apprentice Aidan Redpath rides Get Knotted, and it's a good opportunity for him, while Oliver Stammers, who's apprenticed to Mark Johnston, takes the ride on Byron's Choice.

Get Knotted (pictured below) kept on well to be third at Newmarket on heavy going last time and is clearly in good heart. He's better on a turning track and we all know seven furlongs at York is the ideal combination. He just hasn't had that opportunity with the restricted programme this season, but he'll stay in training next year.

Byron's Choice won really well at Catterick last time (see picture below) and has gone up in the handicap as a result. He would probably prefer a turning track too but both horses are in good form and, hopefully, they'll run well.'