Graffard aiming Volta at Sun Chariot

Volta is one of 20 to stand their ground in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes. Pic:racingfotos.com

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard is hoping to land yet another French success in the Group 1 Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes when he saddles Volta in this one mile contest at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on Saturday, 1st October.

A total of 20 fillies and mares remain engaged in this £250,000 event following yesterday’s (Tuesday) scratching stage. With six of the entries already Group 1 winners and all but three of them successful in Pattern company, it promises to be a top class affair.

It will have a strong international flavour too, as precisely half of the possible contenders for this sixth of seven races in the Mile category of the QIPCO British Champions Series hail from outside Britain.

One of these is Volta, a four-length winner of the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly back in early June prior to placed efforts in two Group 1s: the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) and the Prix Rothschild.

Graffard said: ““Volta has had a summer break following a long spring campaign and the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes has been her target ever since she ran in the Prix Rothschild.

“We took a chance with her over a longer trip in the Prix de Diane but I am convinced that her best trip is a mile and I think that she will handle the undulations of the Rowley Mile without any problems. She has a very nice turn of foot and, although she can cope with soft, would prefer good ground.

“I spent four years in Newmarket before I began training and really enjoyed my time there, so it would be great if I could have my first ever British winner there. But I know that it is going to be a really tough race.”

France has provided the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot winner six times in the last eight years and Volta’s four fellow French raiders include the recent Group 1 Prix du Moulin runner-up, Spectre, and last year’s three-time Group 1 scorer, Ervedya.

A four-strong Irish contingent is headed by the dual Classic heroine, Minding, and Sunday’s Group 1 Matron Stakes winner, Alice Springs, while this race is set to be the stage for the European debut of the South African Champion racemare, Smart Call.

The 20 remaining entries are: Always Smile (IRE), Amazing Maria (IRE), Arabian Queen (IRE), Creggs Pipes (IRE), Ervedya (FR), Irish Rookie (IRE), Siyoushake (IRE), Smart Call (SAF), Alice Springs (IRE), Epsom Icon (GB), Hawksmoor (IRE), Minding (IRE), Mise En Rose (USA), Nathra (IRE), Nemoralia (USA), Persuasive (IRE), Spectre (FR), Trixia (FR), Turret Rocks (IRE), Volta (FR).