News Singapore star Zac Spirit in the July Cup reckoning

Singapore star Zac Spirit in the July Cup reckoning

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Zac Spirit could become the first Singapore-trained runner to contest the Darley July Cup at Newmarket after featuring among 59 entries for this year's race.

The dual Group One-winning sprinter, who is trained by Australian Cliff Brown, is one of four non-European entries for the £500,000 six-furlong contest on July 9.

After enduring an 11-month layoff through injury, the six-year-old made a successful return to action at Kranji last month when lifting the Group One Lion City Cup for the second time having won the same prize back in 2014.

Brown said: "I am seriously considering sending Zac Spirit over to England to run in the Darley July Cup as there is not a lot for him in Singapore at this time of year and everything is fantastic with him at the moment - he's better than ever.

"I think he would cope fine with the different conditions over there - we would make sure we travelled him over plenty of time in advance. He's always hanging tough at the end of seven-furlong races here, so the stiff, straight six should suit him well.

"He's a lightly-raced horse who has had to recover from two surgeries. After his most recent operation he spent six months back in Australia (where he was bred) and that has really helped him both physically and mentally."

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for eight of the entries received, including last year's Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, and triple Group One winner Air Force Blue.

There is also interest from America in the Wesley Ward-trained Undrafted, who finished fourth in the race in 2014, and Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Mongolian Saturday from the yard of Enebish Ganbat, while hopes of an Australian-based winner rest with John O'Shea's representative Holler.

Charlie Hills, who was responsible for last year's winner Muhaarar, is triple-handed on the entry list with Cotai Glory, Magical Memory and Strath Burn, while Henry Candy has entered last year's Sprint Cup hero Twilight Son and Limato, runner-up in both the Commonwealth Cup and Prix de la Foret.