Michael Jarvis: Musaafer is ready for Trophy test

Making a point: Michael Jarvis will step Musaafer up in class at Doncaster

13 April 2012

Michael Jarvis is hopeful that his exciting prospect Musaafer will provide a welcome tonic in Saturday's Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

The Newmarket trainer, recovering at home after a recent heart operation, thinks the son of Marju, an impressive six-length winner over a mile at Pontefract last time, will handle the step up in class in the one-mile Group 1 contest.

Jarvis said: "He's a really nice horse but this is going to be a big test. The Racing Post Trophy looks as though it is shaping up to be a stronger race than last Saturday's Dewhurst."

The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned colt has improved steadily since he was second to Godolphin's highly regarded Mendip over a mile on his debut at Kempton last month.

"Musaafer has only run on a fast surface and he shows he handles that pretty well," said Jarvis.

"We don't know if he handles soft ground, but the weather looks set fair at Doncaster and the ground will probably take a good drop of rain."

The 71-year-old is recovering well at his Kremlin House Stables after undergoing an operation to repair a leaking heart valve.

He said: "Things are progressing. Though I'm getting around the yard and working in the office, it's only seven weeks from the operation and the doctor says I won't be feeling back to normal for three months or so. I'm halfway there.

"But I won't be on the racecourse much, because the long journeys sitting in traffic are very tiring, and I don't get up on the Heath much. I have a lovely wife who is looking after me." Jarvis, whose highlight of his 41-year career as a trainer was Carroll House's win in the 1989 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, is set to go globetrotting with dual Group 1 winner Pressing again.

The Gary Tanaka-owned six-year-old runs in Italy on Sunday week.

Jarvis said: "He's in good form and he'll go for either the Group 1 Premio Roma over 10 furlongs or the one-mile Group 2 Premier Robot at Campanelle. He's won them both before."

Meanwhile, Kings Destiny, second to Opinion Poll in a 1m 4f Heritage Handicap at Ascot last week, is being primed for the November Handicap at Doncaster.

"He's only gone up 2lb for being second in a £75,000 handicap, so I'm quite pleased. The winner went up a fair bit more," Jarvis added.

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