13:20, Coral Pipped At The Post Winners Handicap
Kurakka 8/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)
James Doyle rode a Wathnan horse to win this last year in the shape of French Duke and history could repeat itself as Ralph Beckett's Sing Us A Song is strong at the head of the market. The Camelot colt looked a horse to follow when winning well at Sandown in the spring and can be forgiven a poor effort at Royal Ascot as he missed the break terribly. This is easier and he still looks well weighted but he's not been missed and it must be in the back of the mind what happened the last day. Instead slight preference at the odds is for Alan King's Kurakka. This son of Megalia d'Oro won on his only start over 12 furlongs in a race at Haydock that has produced plenty of winners. He stayed on well that day but didn't look short on pace which may be why connections dropped back in trip for a Heritage Handicap at Newmarket's July meeting. He ran well that day to finish 3rd, keeping on well to the task despite not looking to enjoy the track. That looks decent form in the context of this race as the Godolphin horse that won could well be group class. This step back up in trip looks the right move and he's still unexposed.
///
13:55, HKJC World Pool Oak Tree Stakes
Bright Thunder 8/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)
One of the hottest renewals of the Oak Tree Stakes in years and it may mean that last year's "winner" Jabaara will find it tougher 12 months on. Tabiti leads the market after a game effort to finish 3rd in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot over a trip that may have stretched her. She looked classy last year in winning the Dick Poole Stakes at Salisbury but her price is more about potential than actual form. She could take this on her way to better things whilst Cloud Cover would be interesting if transferring her all weather form to turf. Albeit Goodwood isn't the easiest course to transfer form to. Fair Angelica could run well at a price considering she's gone well at the course before and seems to be in good form for all that she's been done no favours by the draw in stall 14. Formal won well at Epsom and will find this easier than the race she contested against colts last time out at York. Saqqara Sands could close the gap on her from Epsom and is progressive. She won well at Carlisle last time out and is another to consider at the prices. Karl Burke's Night Of Thunder filly Bright Thunder could be the answer to this open affair however. The 4 year old filly has been given a tricky draw in stall 12 but Magical Sunset won this from stall 14 in 2023 and Sam James' mount seems uncomplicated. A listed winner at two, Bright Thunder built on her ambitious seasonal debut at the Curragh to nearly win the Conqueror Stakes at this course next time out. She was gunned down by Crimson Advocate that day who has done plenty to boost the form since. That was a mile but she shaped as though had the race been over this 7 furlongs that she would have come out on top. She ran well at Group level at Epsom since in a race that wouldn't have suited her and has since bolted up back at Listed level in France. She's a straightforward filly who shapes as though she has the pace for this drop back in trip and is proven winner at the grade.
///
14:30, HKJC World Pool Molecomb Stakes
Lady Imam 6/4, 2pts win
Perhaps not the strongest renewal of the Molecomb. Dickensian stepped up on form shown to date to finish 2nd in the Windsor Castle and is respected on the back of that whereas Military Code bounced back from Coventry disappointment to finish 2nd in the Dragon Stakes at Sandown. Ameeq finished 4th in the Norfolk in a strong renewal and should go well and Sands Of Spain comes into this off a cracking effort to finish 3rd in the Super Sprint having led close home and giving weight to the front 2. All of these will have their work cut out to down the likely favourite, Lady Imam. The daughter of July Cup winner Starman has a penalty to shrug off but she is easily the highest rated in this field and the drop back to the minimum trip looks the right move after being outbattled by the highly rated one from Ballydoyle in a Group 2 over 6 furlongs last time out. She'd previously looked speedy and high class in her 3 victories to date. Ryan Moore takes over and this trip should play to her strengths. Difficult to oppose.
///
15:05, Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes
Rosallion 11/10 (without Field Of Gold), 2pts win
The big race of the week is upon us, the Sussex Stakes. I haven't seen many renewals in the flesh but was lucky to be on the downs in 2011 to see Frankel win for the second time in an awesome display of class and power. That is a memory that will stay with me forever. In the same colours as the mighty colt is Field Of Gold who is also coming into this race as the short priced favourite. The grey son of Kingman, an unlucky loser the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, put in the performance of the week at Royal Ascot when bolting up in the St James' Palace by 3 1/2 lengths. The imperious colt cannot be opposed here on his mission to bag a third straight Group 1 and his first in open company. Henri Matisse, a classic winner in his own right, has claims of cutting the deficit from Ascot here. This track should play more to his strengths but he still will need plenty to go right for him. The class older horse in the race however, is Rosallion. Last year's St James' Palace Stakes winner was denied a chance to run in the Sussex Stakes due to injury but is back 12 months on and in decent form. He shaped like much the best horse in the Queen Anne Stakes when chinned by Docklands and the suspicion is that this race will be more to his liking. He's a fast horse who should enjoy the likely truly run race (2 pacemakers in this) and although he is unlikely to be able to give 8 pounds to Field Of Gold, I fancy he'll have the measure of everything else and rates a fair bet at odds-against in the without market.
///
15:45, British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Handicap
Music Piece 7/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)
This is a fiendishly open fillies handicap to follow up the big race. Quebella looks to have solid chances after a good effort to finish 3rd at Southwell last time out. She came from a long way back that day and is interesting with Jim Crowley in the saddle. Wonder Star has been well drawn in stall 2 and is of interest given she looked classy on seasonal debut at Ascot. She needs to bounce back from a poor run at Newbury since though and hasn't been seen in 74 days. The 3 year olds look to hold sway here and the answer may be in the shape of Andrew Balding's filly Music Piece. The daughter of Camelot looked like a filly to follow last year when building on her career debut at Ascot to win at Haydock in soft ground from a subsequent winner. She seemed progressive in the spring and nearly won the Height Of Fashion here in May. She had the Sandringham winner in behind her that day. She can be forgiven her poor effort since then as the combination of 12 furlongs and fast ground didn't suit her at Ascot. She's now back on a fairer surface over a course and distance that clearly suits. She should run well.
///
16:20, British Stallion Studs EBF Alice Keppel Fillies' Conditions Stakes
No bet
This isn't the strongest renewal and highly touted Wathnan filly Zelania should be hard to beat for all that prohibitive odds aren't attractive given her profile. A race to watch.
///
16:55, World Pool Bet With The Tote Handicap
Havana Blue 28/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)
A wide open 20 runner handicap to end the day is not what many punters would like. Native Warrior has course form and will be popular with Christophe Soumillon in the saddle for all that it will be tricky under top weight. Leadman is respected after winning at the July Festival but he doesn't look a prime candidate to back that up. Billyjoh is a likeable horse who usually runs his race but finds winning challenging. In a wide open race it may be worth taking a punt on one at lengthy odds. In that vein, Julie Camacho's string has been having a fine summer and her 5 year old Havana Blue has claims at a big price. The son of Havana Grey has been drawn well in stall 7 and is now back down to a mark he has won off. Not the most consistent it must be said but he finished 2nd off a pound higher over this trip and in this grade at Sandown in August before bettering that effort to finish 4th in a big field handicap at Leopardstown. He's had wind surgery since and must bounce back from a poor run last time out but he was made too much use off and will be more at home in a bigger field.
No comments:
Post a Comment