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Wulfruna Stakes preview: Second Thought on track

Second Thought goes past Sutter County
Image: Second Thought goes past Sutter County

William Haggas is looking forward to seeing Second Thought make his first start of 2018 in the sunbets.co.uk Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton on Saturday.

The Kodiac colt was one of the big success stories of the last all-weather season, progressing from a Wolverhampton maiden win in December to completing a four-timer in the 3 Year Old All-Weather Championships at Lingfield on Good Friday last April.

He went on to finish second to the top-class Harry Angel in the in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock the following month and while he failed to rediscover his best form on the grass in the autumn, he bounced back to land a Listed prize at Kempton in November.

Despite having to concede weight all round on his first start since, Second Thought will be a hot favourite to see off seven rivals in this #50,000 Listed Fast-Track Qualifier under Ryan Moore.

Haggas said: "I hope he'll run a good race. He seems in good form at home and we've had this race in mind for a while as his prep race for Lingfield on Good Friday.

"He's doing very well and we're looking forward to getting him going again."

Harry Dunlop saddles the likeable grey Early Morning.

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The seven-year-old travelled to France to finish third in a Listed contest last December and has since run with credit in two competitive handicaps at Lingfield.

"It was great to get some black type with him in France. I know it sounds strange, trying to get black type with with a seven-year-old gelding, but he's a home-bred and he's probably the best horse the mare has produced, so it's nice to get some black type for her," said Dunlop.

"If he can get some more black type for her on Saturday, we'd be delighted.

"I hope he goes there with a good each-way chance, but obviously the Haggas horse will be hard to beat."

Other contenders include the Mark Johnston-trained Masham Star and David O'Meara's Salateen.

There is also a total prize fund of #50,000 up for grabs in the sunbets.co.uk Lincoln Trial.

Haggas and Moore had been set to team up with the likely favourite for this extended one-mile heat in Original Choice, a course winner who was set to make his first start since being narrowly beaten on heavy ground at Haydock last September.

However, the four-year-old, who is a general 20-1 shot for the Lincoln itself at Doncaster on March 24, misses this weekend's engagement due to a bad scope.

In the absence of Original Choice, 11 runners go to post, with Richard Fahey's recent Lingfield winner Constantino and Michael Appleby's Big Country two of the leading fancies.

Big Country was only narrowly beaten in the John Smith's Cup at York last summer and is two from two on artificial surfaces.

Appleby said: "He's in good form and hopefully he'll run well, but it's a prep run for the Lincoln really.

"A mile round there (Wolverhampton) will probably be short enough for him. A mile and a quarter is probably his best trip, but I think a strongly-run mile on the grass at Doncaster will suit him in the Lincoln.

"We want to get a run into him and it would be great if he can make it three from three on the all-weather."

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