The Horse Racing Thread - Part 2

[sammy]

Novice event over 1M 3yds at Yarmouth on Thurs.

Francesco Guardi sent off at prohibitive odds was involved in a quite peculiar incident where he jumped the road crossing after about 2F and sprawled badly on hind legs, no chance thereafter, eased down. Line through this.

[sammy]

Conditions Stakes event over 1M at Newbury on Fri.
Average renewal

Megallan took another step forward in defeat stepped back up to 1M, pushed along around 2f mark, not quicken at business end, kept on. The way the race panned out didn't help his cause with a sedate pace exposing lack of finishing kick to challenge winner, needs a strong gallop. Holds entry in Dewhurst, should stay 1M+, likely to come on for a winter on his back, remains with potential.

Jumby upped to 1M for first time ran a decent enough race on par with last effort, once again travelling well but finding little when asked at business end. Still early days but slightly disappointing that he hasn't reproduced debut form last twice.

Knight Salute attempted to dictate things here with a change of usual tactics, made little difference as ran no kind of race. Had Oisin on board so clearly better expected but another below par effort and seems to have somewhat lost his way.

[sammy]

Fillies Condition Stakes over 7F at Newbury on Fri.

Lucid Dreamer sent off fav following good impression made in debut win. First time on turf she dived right leaving the stalls but that was about as hairy as it got as she went on to land this with a bit in hand. Not entered in Fillies Mile so Oh So Sharp Stakes next possible port of call if not put away. Trainer was landing this for third successive year, Quadrilateral won last term and whilst not in stablemates class at present she's a nice prospect on an upward curve.

[sammy]

Mill Reef Stakes G2 over 6F at Newbury on Sat.
Strong renewal

Alkumait upped markedly in class from maiden company put in an impressive display to land this with a bit in hand. Smooth headway around 2f mark before quickening to lead business end, kept on, ran slightly green as evidenced by him wandering in closing stages. Doesn't hold any entries so would need to be supplemented for Dewhurst should connections wish to step up in distance this term with a view to next years Guineas. On my figures I have this as one of the better 2yo displays thus far, looks sure to progress from this and will be interesting to see how far his stamina stretches.

Fivethousandtoone sent off fav following novice event win latest. Upped markedly in class took a step forward in defeat, travelled well, pushed along around 2f mark, not quicken closing stages, ran on. Unable to match winners finishing speed over this 6F trip, step up in distance should benefit as left the impression here that he needs at least another furlong. Holds Dewhurst entry although Horris Hill may be on radar, remains with potential.

Devilwala runner up in Gimcrack latest failed to reproduce that form here. Worth keeping in mind if sights lowered as only third visit to track having previously appeared potentially smart performer, holds entry in Listed 2yo Trophy at Redcar next month.

[sammy]

Fillies Handicap C3 over 12F at Newmarket on Sat.

Folk Dance raised 6lb by assessor following win in ordinary C4 handicap finished runner up to well treated rival over 10F off mark of 83 latest. Upped in distance another two furlongs off same mark landed this in style, held up and travelling strongly, headway on bridle business end to lead inside last, hard held. Took a big step forward over this 12F trip, assessor likely to take a dim view and dependent on that will be interesting to see where connections aim her at next, open to further improvement.

[sammy]

Fillies Novice event over 1M 2F at Chelmsford on Sun.

Zahratty sent of well backed fav following novice win latest. Found the combination of a more experienced opponent and 7lb penalty too much to overcome on AW debut. Had every chance and kept on but failed to find necessary improvement, progressed stalled here although only third visit to track, remains of interest.

Full replay

[sammy]

Handicap C5 over 6F at Leicester on Mon.

Sycamore looked reasonably treated on handicap debut off a mark of 73. One paced at business end, finding the drop back to 6F on the sharp side, failed to progress here but should stay 1M and remains of interest when given a stronger test of stamina.

Full replay

[sammy]

Maiden event over 7F at Newmarket on Fri.

Rainbow Fire had shown signs of ability despite greeness on debut and much more professional here after lengthy break. Sent off an easy to back 11/2, disputed lead and edged ahead business end, kept on, nice step forward, open to further improvement.

[sammy]

Joel Stakes G2 over 1M at Newmarket on Fri.
Good renewal

Kameko has been dining at the top table with varying amounts of success, Guineas winner, failed Derby bid, troubled passage in the Sussex before firmly put in place by Ghaiyyath in Juddmonte. Dropped in class to G2 for first time this term over Guineas C/D put in a determined performance whilst giving weight to high class older performers. Showed great attitude when briefly caught for toe as pace increased to battle back business end for deserved victory, high class performer heading to QEII next for showdown with Palace Pier.

Tilsit upped in class after break of couple of months following G3 win. Produced a decent performance despite not looking entirely at home over this straight mile, travelled well but wandered when asked for effort business end before keeping on again inside last. Remains open to improvement and hopefully will be kept in training for next term.

[sammy]

Novice event over 1M 37yds at Haydock on Sat.

Saligo Bay failed to confirm promise of debut here, disputed lead and considerately handled by pilot when fading at business end. Qualified for handicaps now and pedigree suggests further should suit, remains with potential.

Full replay

[sammy]

Royal Lodge Stakes G2 over 1M at Newmarket on Sat.

New Mandate saw good support and sent off 9/4 fav following Listed win latest. Took step up in trip and class in stride to continue rise up the ranks and land first pattern class victory. Displayed nice turn of foot here albeit in steadily run affair, held up and took strong hold, good headway around 2f out before quickening to lead business end. He's already been gelded (like Warren Beatty on steroids according to trainer ) which means he doesn't qualify for next years classics but landing this guarantees an entry in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland in Nov. Love this type of horse, tough, genuine and with a real will to win.

[sammy]

Middle Park Stakes G1 over 6F at Newmarket on Sat.
Strong renewal with winners of the Gimcrack, July, Richmond, Norfolk and Phoenix Stakes all represented.

Supremacy was sent off a surprisingly easy to back 13/2 given the style of victory in Richmond latest. Given a couple of months break he took another step forward, quickly away from stalls to make all, travelled well and shaken up around 2F mark, battled well when challenged business end. He enjoyed the run of the race to a certain extent here but no mistaking the willingness to fight for victory he displayed. No question of stretching stamina for Guineas next term as trainer stated he'll be kept to sprinting with the Commonwealth Cup his main target.

Lucky Vega met all kinds of traffic problems in National Stakes over 7F latest, previously very impressive in Phoenix, sent of fav. Beaten narrowly back down in trip here, travelled well, challenged around 2f mark, kept on well inside last. Good performance in defeat, hard to tell without seeing him in the flesh but looks to have the build of a sprinter, connections may still opt for another crack over 7F in Dewhurst in just under a couple of weeks time.

Minzaal put in a very nice display in Gimcrack latest albeit in an average renewal. Decent enough performance here given that being off the pace was not the place to be in this hot company, dropped out at the start and then pulled hard before effort around 2F, steady headway business end. Carried head awkwardly when asked for effort and didn't look entirely at home on this track, will be challenging for major sprints next term and potential leave this behind given different conditions.

Tactical produced a decent performance given he was slightly isolated on the wing and furthest from running rail, headway halfway, challenged around 2f out, not quicken inside last. Ran to form and worth minor upgrade given circumstances, again without seeing him in the flesh he appears to lack the scope of some of his rivals so may have to lower sights regarding grade next term.

The Lir Jet finished behind Lucky Vega in Phoenix latest. Respectable performance despite finishing a length further away from Lucky Vega, another who didn't appear to handle the track well when asked for effort before keeping on at the end. Best performances have come with a decent amount of cut in ground, nice type for G2/3 sprints should he stay in training next term.

Method looked an exciting prospect when landing Listed event in impressive fashion latest. Refused to settle early on, so much so that saddle slipped and ended up around withers, shame we didn't get to see how he handled step up in class, line through this. May get to see him in Cornwallis back at HQ next month, remains open to improvement.

[sammy]

Novice event over 6F 20yds at Wolverhampton on Mon.

Mohawk King dropped markedly in grade to novice company following a couple of runs at G2 level. Facile victory at prohibitive odds under 7lb penalty, didn't tell us anything we didn't already know.

Magical Mile been brought along slowly and has gradually progressed with each outing. Decent enough run, should be more to come and remains of interest.

[sammy]

Novice event over 6F 20yds at Wolverhampton on Mon.

Lauded really hasn't progressed since decent third in G2 Richmond. Dropped back to calmer waters this looked an ideal opportunity to get back on track even with a 7lb penalty to shoulder. Managed to get collared on the line after making all, given his rating he really should have put this one to bed, another disappointing run.

[sammy]

Love withdrawn from Arc

"We had to take Love out just now, we didn't have any choice really because it would have meant a big fine if we withdrew her on the day and Ryan [Moore] wouldn't have been able to ride anything else. It's 4.1 on the going stick there at the moment and they're forecast more rain for tomorrow and Saturday, so we didn't have any choice with her really. Her whole year had been geared to it so it was a difficult decision but we felt we didn't have much choice in the end as we felt it might finish her for the rest of her season."

https://www.racingpost.com/news/arc-cou ... own/452724