Wick Powell’s recent home-work convinced Yorkshire trainer David Barron to go for gold in the Brian Yeardley Continental Two-Year-Old Trophy at Beverley on Saturday.
The young of Sakhee’s Secret made quite a splash when successful on his debut at Southwell last month, and now takes a steep rise in grade for the £25,000 highlight on the Westwood.
Barron, who won the coveted five-furlong sprint two years ago with Midterm Break, reports Wick Powell in fine fettle for his big day in East Yorkshire.
The Thirsk handler said: “He’s been quite a nice horse all the way through and he did it nicely on the sand at Southwell.
“He’s had a touch of sore shins since then, so we’ve had to give him a bit of time, but I’ve been very happy with how he’s been working for the last couple of weeks.
“He’s in a novice auction race at Redcar on Monday, but he’d have to give weight away in that and we thought we’d rather go for something like this where he can run off reasonably level weights.
“It’s a very nice prize to win.”
Wick Powell will be ridden by Graham Gibbons and breaks from stall three in the Brian Yeardley
Continental Two-Year-Old Trophy (2.25).
Won last year by French Derby runner-up First Selection, Barron’s inmate will take on six rivals at Beverley.
Mark Johnston is double-handed with The Last Lion, winner of the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes at Doncaster, and Mailshot, fourth at Newbury in a strong six-furlong race on May 14.
Richard Fahey has given Pontefract scorer Springwood the chance to shine, while Richard Hannon has whittled his squad down to Logi, third on his sole start at York’s Dante meeting.
Ann Duffield will be represented by Rainbow Mist, who won on debut at Thirsk before finishing third over six furlongs at Ripon.
Prince Of Lir, an unraced son of Kodiac, completes the line-up for the Robert Cowell team.
Beverley’s well-attended ‘A Very British Raceday’ starts at 1.50pm – the first of seven races on a card which also features the historic Hilary Needler Trophy.
The going on Thursday morning was described as good to firm, good in places, after 14 millimetres of rainfall on Wednesday.
