News James Tate sets sights on Lingfield success with Lamar

James Tate sets sights on Lingfield success with Lamar

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James Tate could not be happier with Lamar as she takes on the boys in the Ladbrokes Conditions Stakes at Lingfield on Saturday.

The Newmarket handler feels the five-year-old was slightly unlucky to have her winning run ended last time out when she was a fast-finishing third behind Sir Mark Prescott's Don't Be.

That defeat came over a mile and a quarter, but Lamar had previously demonstrated her versatility by winning over seven furlongs.

"I thought she was unlucky last time and that she should be coming here on the back of a hat-trick," said Tate.

"Given her draw, she just ended up a bit further back than is ideal, she likes to race prominently, and consequently she was given a little too much to do.

"She's capable of winning over seven furlongs and 10, but I think a mile around Lingfield is her optimum.

"She's in very good form and while I have every respect for the opposition, the likes of Captain Cat and Complicit, they are going to have to be right at the top of their game to beat her.

"We've certainly got the fitness edge, anyway, and she's absolutely flying.

"Her owner (Saif Ali) and his racing manager (Bruce Raymond) keep threatening to retire her because she is meant to be getting covered this winter. I keep on finding another opportunity for her and we will take it race by race."

The last two winners of the £150,000 Ladbrokes Mile on All-Weather Championships Finals Day feature in a five-strong field.

Roger Charlton's Captain Cat is now a seven-year-old and begins his new campaign here.

He struggled in Group races last summer but showed some sparkle on his final run of 2015 when not beaten far by Tryster back in September.

Marco Botti's Grey Mirage won the Mile in 2015, but he arrives with something to prove, having disappointed on his last two starts.

"On the face of it, his last two runs have been disappointing, but he did return from Chelmsford with a sore foot so he had an excuse for that one," said Botti.

"He has a bit of a fitness edge over some and always runs his best race at Lingfield.

"It's a small field so it will be tactical and Lamar and Captain Cat will be tough to beat.

"If he returns to his form from Finals Day, he'll go close."

Paul Cole's Complicit is a regular visitor to France but showed he is a force to be reckoned with on the all-weather when runner-up to Tryster in last year's Easter Classic.

Capo Rosso is without a win since October 2014 but ran several good races last summer for Tom Dascombe.