SOUTH AFRICAN trainer Sean Tarry is "hoping to land the Nunthorpe Stakes" with National Colour, who is a 16-1 chance with Paddy Power, after leaving the six-year-old in the Coolmore-sponsored event at today's forfeit stage.
The daughter of National Assembly put in a fine effort when sixth, beaten less than two lengths, in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on her first start since running in Dubai in March of last year.
Tarry said: "We are hoping to run National Colour in the Nunthorpe Stakes.
She is based at Geoff Wragg's yard with her training being overseen by Mike De Kock's team and everything is going to plan and has gone smoothly since her last outing.
"I was very pleased with her at Ascot, especially as she was drawn on the other side to the first three home and itwas a great effort considering the length of time that she had not been on the track.
"She had knee surgery in Dubai after the Golden Shaheen and I think that on the dirt, there is less traction and she seemed to lose her hind legs which seemed to slip from underneath her."
National Colour landed two top-class races over 6f in her homeland in 2006, but Tarry believes that she is best over the minimum trip.
He added: "She won her two Group 1s on turf over six and she gets six, but I think that she's better at five. She is older now and may get the six more comfortably, but as a three-year-old, she was really brilliant on grass and is really good over five.
"Fast going is good for her, although if it was very firm or hard going, I don't know how good that would be for her soundness, but it would do her speed no harm.
"I think that she has a good chance and with a run under her belt, I'm more confident and hoping to land it!"
Kingsgate Native is 9-2 favourite with Paddy Power to win the Nunthorpe, while Equiano, National Colour's conqueror atAscot is 5-1 second favourite.
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