Shea Shea seeks English Group 1 in Nunthorpe

Knocking on the door in two of Britain's major sprints this season, Brian

Joffee and Myron Berzack's Shea Shea tries again in Friday's Group 1 Nunthorpe

Stakes at York.

More suited to this five-furlong trip than the stamina-stretching six of

Newmarket's July Cup, the South African flag-bearer still managed a creditable

fourth in that July 13 feature to add to his previous second to Sole Power in

Royal Ascot's King's Stand over this trip June 18. He had beaten that 2010

Nunthorpe hero in both the March 9 Meydan Sprint and Al Quoz Sprint three weeks

later, and trainer Mike de Kock is hoping the cards fall right here.

"I think this is a better track for him --flatter and faster (than Ascot and

Newmarket)," de Kock said. "He'll be much more suited to that than six furlongs

up the hill at Newmarket and last time we may have been a little far back.

"Being his third run back from a rest, Shea Shea should possibly be at his

best, but there's always the luck in running -- what happens on the day, how

they break, how they don't. There's never much between these really top

sprinters and everyone's there trying to win."

One of the surprise packages of the season so far has been Ritchie Fiddes,

Harry Redknapp and Will Salthouse's three-year-old Moviesta, who beat up the

older horses in the King George Stakes at Goodwood last time August 2.

Trainer Bryan Smart is hopeful he can hold his own in this better company.

"He's come back really well and if we see on the track what we have been at

home, there is even better to come," Smart commented. "He always knew he was

good and had that natural speed, but (jockey) Paul (Mulrennan) has a good

relationship with him."

Sole Power, who was fifth in the July Cup after the Royal meeting, is joined

by the same owner's Slade Power and the latter is catching up fast judged on his

latest win in the Curragh's Phoenix Sprint over six furlongs August 11.

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