The Horse Racing Thread - Part 2

[sammy]

Weatherbys 2yo Stakes over 6F 111yds at Doncaster on Thurs.

Yazaman once again had the form in the book to land this but attitude hampered chances. In rear, headway around 2F, kept on inside last, this is his fourth second in five outings, blinkers discarded in favour of first time visor here but didn't have the required effect. Could be in line for the unkindest cut of all.

[sammy]

Runners & riders for St Leger



Galileo Chrome jockey Shane Crosse tested positive for Covid 19, Tom Marquand takes ride.

[sammy]

Novice event over 7F 127yds at Chester on Fri

Aquaman failed to build on debut, took keen hold early on before being outpaced at business end. Didn't look entirely at home on this sharper track, only second outing, will learn from this, remains open to improvement.

[sammy]

Flying Childer Stakes G2 over 5F 3yds at Doncaster on Fri.

Ubettabelieveit had excuses latest when ran too freely on first try at 6F in the Gimcrack. Returned to 5F comfortably out ran quite ridiculous odds of 40/1 to continue progression and record first win in group company. Well covered up here, had to weave his way through business end but managed to find gap and held on nicely despite hanging right inside last. Nice success for trainer and pilot landing their first group win, Prix de l'Abbaye could be on the radar but that will be ground dependent.

Ventura Tormenta returned to 5F for first time since debut following disappointing effort in G1 Phoenix latest. Travelled well, headway around 2F mark, every chance before fading inside last, didn't pick up when asked and has failed to reproduce Prix Robert Papin form last twice.

Mohawk King dropped to 5F for first time following Gimcrack run latest. Prominent once again but without any cover was pushed along around 2F mark before fading business end. Failed to reproduce Gimcrack running and progress stalled at present.

[sammy]

Flying Scotsman Stakes Listed over 7F 6yds at Doncaster on Fri

New Mandate up to Listed level following comfortable nursery handicap win. Waited with, switched & headway around 2F mark, kept on well inside last to lead near line, displayed good attitude here to squeeze through gap when it came and great determination to get his head in front. Developing in to a really likable sort, should be suited by further, has entry in Royal Lodge.

One Ruler sent off well backed fav following debut win in warm maiden that is working out well. Off pace, progress 3F out, pushed along around 2F mark, every chance inside last, ran on, did meet some traffic at business end but already beaten. Failed to build on debut here up in class and with change of tactics, only second visit to track and remains of interest.

[sammy]

Maiden event over 7F 6yds at Doncaster on Fri.
Good maiden

Tawaareq shaped with promise on debut and sent off fav. In touch, progress around 2F mark, ridden over 1F out before asserting near line, made the most of his experience here although it took a while to get going at business end. This 7F looks bare minimum for him and should progress for a stiffer test of stamina.

[sammy]

Novice event over 1M at Sandown on Fri.

Maximal sent off 2/7 fav in what was a weaker event than previous two races he contested. Made the most of easier opportunity and didn't need to improve to register facile win and get off the mark at third time of asking. Should make up into a nice middle distance 3yo next term.

Conquering Eagle had shown promise on debut but failed to build on that effort here under 5lb claimer. Failed to quicken when shaken up around the 3F mark, steady gallop not in his favour and remains of interest.

[sammy]

Handicap C2 over 1M at Doncaster on Sat.
Decent handicap

Matthew Flinders raised 2lb following good run in competitive C3 handicap latest. Least exposed runner and up in class here was sent off the well backed 5/2 Fav, held up, shaken up around 2F mark before quickened to lead inside final 1f, ran on. Took a step forward to land this in good style off a decent pace, will go up for this hopefully assessor not too harsh, likely more to come and remains of interest.

[sammy]

Champagne Stakes G2 over 7F 6yds at Doncaster on Sat.
Up to scratch renewal.

Chindit readily won Listed event latest and took todays step up in class in stride. Held up, travelled well, headway around 2F mark before quickening to lead inside last, this was a really impressive performance given the way he travelled and had bit in hand at the finish. Holds Dewhurst entry, further progress looks likely.

Albasheer up markedly in class following impressive debut win. Travelled well, led around 2f mark before shaken up, headed at business end, kept on, took step up in class well and improved on debut effort here, lacking experience of winner. Holds entries in Royal Lodge & Dewhurst, remains open to further improvement.

Bevious Company put in below par performance on return to 7F, two runs in three days less than three weeks ago likely to have taken edge off here.

[sammy]

Nursery Handicap C2 over 1M at Doncaster on Sat.

Legend Of Dubai improved on debut form in Novice event latest and sent off fav here on handicap debut off a mark of 83. Shaken up 3f mark, every chance business end not quicken. Failed to progress here and all in all a disappointing effort off what looked a reasonable opening handicap mark.

Time Interval up in distance on handicap bow on mark of 75. Threw all chance away by refusing to settle, jockey raced apart from main field in effort to calm him down but to no avail, wandered around business end before weakening. Line through this.

[sammy]

Champions Juvenile Stakes G2 over 1M at Leopardstown on Sat.

Cadillac narrowly beaten in Futurity on soft going latest was more at home on this faster surface landing first pattern class win. Mid div, headway and quickened to lead business end, driven clear, moved through the gears nicely in impressive display. Holds multiple entries, Beresford, Royal Lodge & Dewhurst but connections seem to be favouring heading to the US for Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Open to further improvement.

[sammy]

Irish Champions Stakes G1 over 1M 2F at Leopardstown on Sat.
Cracking renewal that saw a change of tactics from Ballydoyle help lower the colours of odds on fav Ghaiyyath.

Magical produced a career best effort to become only the second horse to land this twice. Ridden more aggressively than in the Juddmonte and along with stable mate Japan neither gave Ghaiyyath a minutes rest to settle into characteristic devastating rhythm. She was always within striking distance and to her credit she battled her way to the front at the business end to record a deserved victory. Given the stable has strong hand for the Arc it's likely she'll contest Prix de l'Opera on the same card, such a tough & genuine mare this her seventh G1 win and remains a credit to connections.

Ghaiyyath tasted defeat for first time this year but to his credit went out on his shield to a career best by winner. There's no two ways about it this was a bit of shock result given his dominance over his rivals in this division. Without taking anything away from the winner who won this fair & square it's been the busiest season Ghaiyyath has had to date and perhaps the extra workload took the edge off slightly here, also has to be noted he was giving winner 3lbs for a ¾L beating. Don't see him heading to the Arc, up two furlongs and attempting to dominate a high class field from the front a difficult task, more likely to return for the Champion Stakes at Ascot in around a months time.

[sammy]

National Stakes G1 over 7F at Curragh on Sun.
Strong renewal.

Thunder Moon upped markedly in class came here off back of impressive debut win in Curragh maiden. This really was an impressive performance given his inexperience and the troubled passage he overcame to land this readily. On bridle, travelling well when denied a run from 2f out, hampered and lost momentum around 1f mark, had to negotiate passage before quickening to lead inside last ½f. Displayed nice attitude and turn of foot here, looks to have all the tools to become top class performer,, should stay at least 1M, installed as 2000 Gns fav on back of this.

Wembley had taken four attempts to break duck at maiden level before a marked step up in class here. Held up travelling well, switched to outside around 1F mark, closed all the way to the line, comfortably out ran odds with an untroubled passage and took a big step forward here despite having no chance with winner. Holds entries in Beresford, Royal Lodge & Dewhurst, breeding suggests 1M+ suitable.

St Mark's Basilica looked in need of step up in trip following fifth place finish in Phoenix & maiden win latest. Took a nice step forward here staying on nicely to take third, still learning as evidenced by his wandering about at business end, holds entries in Beresford, Middle Park & Dewhurst, open to further improvement particularly when stepped up again.

Master Of The Seas was sent of joint fav following impressive win in Superlative Stakes latest. Not fully settled, headway to lead around 1F mark, headed inside last, good run after ten week break, still learning and capable of better, holds Dewhurst entry.

Lucky Vega sent off joint fav after impressive win in G1 Phoenix Stakes latest. Upped a furlong here and really didn't get chance to show ability as met interference on a couple of occasions, better than bare result, holds entries in Middle Park & Dewhurst, remains with potential.

Law Of Indeces was putting in some good late work after tardy start in Phoenix Stakes latest. Trying 7F for first time, put in decent enough performance but left the impression that 6F may suit better in this grade. Holds Dewhurst entry.

Mac Swiney failed to reproduce form of G2 Futurity win on this better racing surface. Wasn't helped by taking keen hold early on but starting to look ground dependent, holds entries in Beresford & Dewhurst.

[sammy]

Grand Prix De Paris G1 over 1M 3F 205 yds at Longchamp on Sun.

Mogul came here on the back of a respectable effort in Great Voltigeur latest. This was the fastest of the three 12F events that took place with stablemate Nobel Prize acting as pace maker and ensuring this was a true test. This proved to be the key along with jockey electing to take the brave route on the rail, headway on inner around 2f mark, quickened to lead over 1f out, won readily. Mogul didn't have to improve that much to land his first G1 although the speed displayed at business end was taking, don't believe he has enough progression in him at present to be an Arc contender. Holds an entry in Champion Stakes at Ascot over 10F but plenty more options for connections to consider before end of season including heading further afield.

Serpentine has had a three month break following Derby victory and looked in need of the run to bring him on. Change of tactics saw him settled in midfield and was first to make move early in straight, hung right and one paced. This should put him spot on for next assignment, his style is more about stamina than turn of foot so return to more positive tactics should benefit.

Highland Chief was reportedly fractious in prelims and refused to settle early doors, made some late headway but given the gallop was always up against it here. He's a likable sort and best not judged on this.

English King passed up Leger entry in effort to get middle distance hopes back on track here. Another disappointing run, met some trouble around 2F mark but lacked gears when gaps came and no extra inside last. Has failed to match early season promise in this division and again left the impression that any further progress will come with a step up in trip.

[sammy]

Novice event over 7F at Sandown on Weds.
Some well bred sorts from major yards.

My Swallow sent of fav following debut in warm maiden. Made the most of experience dictating a field largely made up of newcomers, quickening clear at business end. Had the run of things here but still a nice step forward, open to further improvement.