Soccer

Brigadier Gerard test for Sir Michael Stoute's Bay Bridge

Sir Michael Stoute has an exciting one on his hands with Bay Bridge and Sandown looks the place the four time winner last season is going to be unleashed next.

The Sir Michael Stoute trained Bay Bridge, a winner of all four of his starts last year, is to make his seasonal comeback in the Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.
The four-year-old colt took Newbury's London Gold Cup last May but was ruled out of the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot with a foot abscess.

Bay Bridge returned in October at York to nail a competitive handicap at York and then added the Listed James Seymour Stakes at Newmarket for good measure.

Now, Stoute intends to use Bay Bridge to post a record 12th success in the Group 3 race at Sandown on May 26.
Stoute said: "Bay Bridge is going to go to Sandown for the Brigadier Gerard.
"He is almost ready to come out. He has had a good preparation and now it is time to get down to work.
"We will worry about any targets after he runs at Sandown. As always, we take it one race at a time."
Stoute also has various options for five-year-old Siyouni mare Lights on, who was eye-catching when beating Mutasaabeq in the Group 3 bet365 Mile at Sandown.
The legendary Freemason Lodge handler will be looking at the weather forecast for the Cheveley Parl Stud runner before sorting any firm plans for the mare who has won five out of 11 races so far in her career
"Lights On did it really well at Sandown," said Stoute. "She doesn't want the ground too fast, so she will be ground dependent.
"She doesn't need it soft, but she doesn't want it quick, either."

The seasoned Stoute is "still thinking" about Lights On's next intended engagement with the possibility of a run in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, a race in which she can be backed at a general 20/1.

But Stoute isn't going to switch Lights On at Epsom saying "We will have another Cheveley Park filly to go to Epsom.

"Potapova was beaten a short head at Kempton last time (in the Listed Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes) and she will go to Epsom for the (Group Three) Princess Elizabeth Stakes (on June 4)."

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