Equiano can be the real star performer

Hotter than July: the Hills camp say Equiano’s odds don’t reflect the threat he poses in the July Cup

13 April 2012

The Barry Hills team believe that bookmakers have got it wrong in dismissing the chances of Prime Defender and Equiano in the Group 1 Darley July Cup tomorrow.

The weight of money has been for the Aidan O'Brien-trained Starspangledbanner, currently a best-priced 13-8 with Sky Bet, who was impressive when landing the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last time.

He is drawn 11 of the 14 runners, alongside Equiano (10), who landed the King's Stand Stakes over five furlongs at Royal Ascot last time, with Duke Of York Stakes winner Prime Defender next to his stablemate in stall nine.

Hills has yet to win the £400,000 six-furlong sprint but his son and assistant trainer Charlie Hills feels Equiano (16-1) and Prime Defender (25-1) are overpriced. He said: "The bookmakers have overlooked Equiano. After all, he won a Group One last time and he's won over six furlongs this year.

"We've been very happy with the way he's been working since Ascot and he's been very consistent."

As a three-year-old, Equiano, a son of Acclamation, was among the top sprinters in the world, taking the King's Stand Stakes for Spanish trainer Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez.

Having joined Hills last season, he took his time to acclimatise but has been a revelation this term, winning three of four starts.

Hills added: "He's a quirky horse and might have been holding his breath a bit last season. It may also be that he had a hard season as a three-year-old.

"He has never really run a disappointing race. It was just he wasn't finishing his races last year. But we're hoping for a good run. He wasn't stopping at Ascot and may be hard to catch."

Twice a winner already this season, Prime Defender was ninth to Starspangledbanner in the Golden Jubilee but is "in the form of his life", according to Hills. "He is running the best he's ever done. At Ascot he was drawn on the wrong side and wasn't beaten far," added Hills. "He goes to Newmarket with a fighting chance."

Trainer Stan Moore has revealed that Group One-winning sprinter Total Gallery, who failed to fire in both the King's Stand and the Golden Jubilee, won't be in action again until the Nunthorpe Stakes at York on 20 August.

He said: "We've decided to freshen him up because all his best runs were at the backend of his two- and three-year-old seasons. The Nunthorpe will be his next race. He was exceptional as a three-year-old and sometimes they can go through a stale period."

Royal Ascot runner-up Blue Maiden is among a quartet of Earle Mack-owned performers set to continue their careers in America with Christophe Clement.

Blue Maiden was purchased by Mack shortly before finishing runner-up to Timepiece in the Listed Sandringham Handicap.

Three-time winner and Classic performer Audacity Of Hope has joined Jeremy Noseda prior to departure and the quartet is completed by handicappers Brother Cha and Bangalore Gold.

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Equiano can be the real star performer

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