Denton Hall News

New options for Dakota Gold as Dods welcomes rescheduled Ascot races

TRAINER Michael Dods has welcomed today’s announcement that four feature races are to be rescheduled following the abandonment of  last Saturday's Ascot meeting due to heavy rain.

The British Horseracing Authority has confirmed the revised plan in conjunction with York, Goodwood and Nottingham racecourses.

The Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes will take place at York on October 9; The Group 3 Bengough Stakes has been moved to York on October 10, the Listed October Stakes for fillies will now be run at Goodwood on October 11, and the Listed Rous Stakes has been re-routed to Nottingham on October 14.

Dods, whose star sprinter Dakota Gold missed out running in the Rous Stakes due to the waterlogged track, welcomed the move.

The Denton Hall trainer said: “Overall, the racing industry has done a cracking job to keep the sport going during the pandemic, and this is another example of the flexible and pragmatic approach that has been so important.

“It has been a difficult season for obvious reasons and racing can ill-afford to lose meetings, and these kind of races, so it’s a really positive step to reschedule them.”

Dods confirmed that Dakota Gold would be entered in both the six-furlong Bengough Stakes and the Rous Stakes over five furlongs. The six-year-old gelding, who won the Rous Stakes during a prolific season in 2019, has also been entered in the Breeders Backing EBF Flying Scotsman Conditions Stakes at Musselburgh over the minimum trip on October 12.

“We’ll see what the ground’s like and weigh up the opposition, but it’s good to have some options,” said Dods.

• Dakota Gold is pictured winning the Listed Beverley Bullet at the end of August

A BHA spokesman said: “Although it is not usual procedure to reschedule Group 3 and Listed races, it was felt that with the abandonment coming late in an already disrupted season it was in the best interests of all concerned to reschedule these opportunities.

“The BHA is extremely grateful to the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) for providing the prize money for all races, alongside the European Breeders Fund (EBF) for the £10,000 added to the October Stakes.”