Michael Dods hopeful Troubador can kick-start big weekend with Redcar win

This weekend promises to be fast and furious for Michael Dods, with the trainer holding live chances in some big sprints in Britain and France.

While Mabs Cross heads to Longchamp for Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye, on Saturday Dods's attention will be turned on Redcar with Troubador in line for the Listed Two Year Old Trophy.

Since finishing seventh on debut at Beverley, Troubador has gone from strength to strength, winning four of his six subsequent starts and finishing runner-up on the other two outings.

With an official mark of 101, Troubador is the joint highest-rated juvenile in the race, and Dods said on Monday: "It's the obvious race to go for. In nurseries he's giving too much weight away so we thought we'd wait and come here fresh and well.

"He's won on the track and any juice in the ground will help him. He's been in good form and is in off a nice weight."

It is a race Dods is yet to win, despite running the likes of Mecca's Angel in 2013, who finished fourth, and the trainer added: "We've run well in it in the past. It's a nice race with good prize-money."

Keith Dalgleish landed the spoils with Summer Daydream last year, and has seven potential runners in the mix following Monday's entries stage.

While final plans will be made closer to the time, recent Hamilton winner Glasvegas is a likely runner as Dalgleish said: "Hopefully he'll go and he will like the ground."

The other Listed race on the card, the Racing TV EBF Stallions Guisborough Stakes, has attracted some potentially exciting runners, with German 2,000 Guineas runner-up Arctic Sound and Wokingham winner Cape Byron among the entries.

Two to watch in the Two Year Old Trophy

Desert Safari
Mark Johnston

Two from two on the all-weather, Desert Safari looks well worth a crack at this race. Both his wins came last month, and he was particularly impressive last time out at Kempton when scoring by four and a half lengths. If successfully switching to turf, he could be very interesting.

Premier Power
Roger Varian

Although lacking experience with only one start under his belt, Premier Power displayed a lot of promise at Newmarket in August. The colt was only pipped late on by Powertrain, who has won again since, and the front pair were well clear that day. Varian has a 33 per cent strike-rate with juveniles at the track (three from nine).

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