Luca Cumani eyes Series riches with Mizzou

Cumani says Mizzou has come out of his race at Royal Ascot in good shape. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Luca Cumani has mapped out a three-race QIPCO British Champions Series programme for Gold Cup runner up Mizzou – starting with an outing in next month’s Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York on August 19.

The five-year-old is being readied for a drop back down in trip for the extended two-mile Group Two prize, which he finished second in 12 months ago.

After claiming a second successive victory in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot on his seasonal return, the son of Galileo found only Order Of St George too strong on his return to the Berkshire course at the royal meeting last month.

Cumani said: “Mizzou ran very well at Ascot and I am very pleased by how he has come out of that race.

“He will probably now go for the Lonsdale Cup followed by the Doncaster Cup then back to Ascot at the end of the season for the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup on Champions Day.”

Although Group One winner Second Step has failed to fire in three starts this season, the five-year-old, who finished down the field in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes on his most recent start at Newmarket, could still contest the QIPCO-sponsored King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 23.

Cumani added: “Things didn’t work out for him at Newmarket. He is another who is now on a mini break before deciding where we go.

“He has got the entry in the King George. We will keep an eye on it to see if it is a possibility.”