Horse Racing

Ascot-based trainer Paul Jordan is confident over his chances of scoring back-to-back wins in Saturday’s Beaufine Stakes at Belmont Park with his talented mare For Your Eyes Only.

Bletchley Park four-year-old For Your Eyes Only is one of 14 final acceptors in this year’s $80,000 Listed Beaufine Stakes (1000m), and despite drawing awkwardly in gate 10 Jordan believes she can successfully defend her title in the sprint feature.

Twelve months ago Jordan was bullish about For You Eyes Only in last year’s Beaufine Stakes, despite the then three-year-old having run fifth as the beaten favourite in her lead-up run, and the mare didn’t disappoint scoring a tidy one and a half length win over Ma Ma Machine breaking the race record.

That was her last time in the winner’s stall, For Your Eyes Only ready to break a four-race losing streak when she resumes at Belmont on Saturday.

For Your Eyes Only has recorded two Group placings since her Beaufine success last year, finishing third to Waratahs’ Secret in the Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes (1200m) last October and third to Famous Roman in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) in November.

Her last race was over eight months ago when For Your Eyes Only ran ninth to Gathering in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 20.

After her failed Railway Stakes run For Your Eyes Only suffered a setback tearing her near foreleg tendon last December.

She showed she was back on track to return following a lengthy spell, however, Jordan impressed with his mare’s recent barrier trial win 930m on July 11 beating Grand Jardin at Lark Hill that followed on from her close second to Kasabian in a 1000m heat at Belmont last month.

“I’m really happy with her and I think she’ll go really well,” Jordan said.

“She ran 56 and a bit (56.61 sec) in this last year.

“She’s had the two trials so she should be close to her top.”

Facing a tough field of rivals in Saturday’s Beaufine Stakes, For Your Eyes Only’s biggest threats are likely to come from last year’s runner-up Ma Ma Machine, Allen McNamara’s Kid Choisir drawn in barrier four with William Pike to ride, the Darren Mcauliffe-trained Kasabian on the rails and the in-form All Friared Up.

For Your Eyes Only has to overcome not only a classy field and a wide draw, but a 3kg weight rise from the 53kg she carried to victory last year.

Regular rider Troy Turner is booked for the ride and will take the mount on the reigning Beaufine Stakes winner at 56kg, the hoop having ridden For Your Eyes only to all but three of her 23 career starts to date.

In her favour, however, are that For Your Eyes only is undefeated at the Beaufine Stakes distance having won all four of her 1000 metre starts to date and that she also has a flawless two-from-two first-up record.

Jordan indicated that after the Beaufine on Saturday, For Your Eyes Only would head towards the $80,000 Listed Belmont Newmarket (12000m) on August 6.

“She’ll probably just have the two runs this time in, this and the Newmarket, depending how she goes,” he confirmed.

2011 Beaufine Stakes Final Field & Barriers