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Watching the World Cup is playing havoc with the rest of my life and my apologies for a few short updates in the last couple of weeks.
I thought I would take a look back at the events of the past week on the racecourse.
Day 1 at Royal Ascot was not a great success for the this column. As Royal Ascot returned home after a year in Yorkshire I fancied Major Cadeaux in the Coventry Stakes but Richard Hannon’s colt found one to good. Major Cadeaux had won a Newbury maiden on May 20 beating Amanda Perrett’s Jo’burg. This time Jo’burg ran a very creditable 4th. Champlain (3rd) and Conquest (5th) also ran in that maiden and both went on to better things at Royal Ascot last week. Champlain won the Chesham and Conquest was only beaten a neck in the Windsor Castle. I will be keeping an eye on this quartet as the form line looks solid.
There were a few horses from our list to follow in the King’s Stand. Benbaun performed best of them and only went down by a short head to the Aussie raider Takeover Target.
The Queen Anne Stakes was an unsatisfactory race from my point of view. Court Masterpiece, Proclamation and Peeress were 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively after being squeezed for room close home by the winner Ad Valorem.
On the Wednesday Soviet Song proved she is no back number a t the age of 6 by coming from last to first to claim the Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes. Second was Echelon, one of a number of top fillies from Cheveley Park Stud in recent years. Others being the likes of Russian Rhythm and Peeress.
If Soviet was a popular winner with the racing public and great favourite Ouija Board who took the next race, the Prince of Wales Stakes.
The Royal Hunt Cup was a successful race for my list to follow. Cesare, again a product of Cheveley Park prevailed by a neck from Stronghold with Hinterland 4th. All 3 were drawn low, and this draw bias was to be a feature of the week.
On Thursday Scottish Stage from the list to follow went close when only beaten a neck in the Ribblesdale Stakes. Just as in the Royal Hunt Cup the listers were first and second in the ultra competitive Britannia Handicap. Sir Gerard was backed down from 8s to 9/2 and quickened impressively to beat Easy Air who also finished strongly. Sir Gerard, Cesare and Soviet Song were all trained by James Fanshaw and ridden by Jamie Spencer. The last race of the day went to the veteran Uhoomagoo who recorded his 17th win on his 99th race.
Possibly the best winner of the week was John Gosden’s Nannina who trounced a high class field to win the Coronation Stakes. Mick Channon’s Flashy Wings was best of the rest in 2nd.
Perhaps the most remarkable race of the week was the Golden Jubilee Stakes on Saturday. It wasn’t so long ago that this horse was being talked of as a potential hurdler and here he was winning a Group 1 over 6 furlongs. One of our list horses Balthazar’s Gift finished like a train in second at 50/1.
Our best finisher in the Wokingham was Borderlescott on 4th. When Firenze hit the front it looked like yet another big win for J Spencer only for Baltic King to cut him down with a devastating late run. Baltic King is a very good sprinter when he gets conditions in his favour.
We had a list winner during the afternoon on Saturday when Zidane won with ease at Newmarket. Zidane, like Sir Gerard a fitting winner during the World Cup, is a half brother to Firenze. Fear to Tread was a winner for the list at Warwick in the evening.
The progressive Alfie Flits won for the list at Pontefract and continues on an upward curve and there was also a gutsy win in the Pontefract Cup from Elite Racing Club’s Monolith. Moving on to look at Monday’s action, Burning Incense represents the list to follow in the 7.40 at Windsor. He has been knocking at the door in recent outings and this could be his opportunity. The other runner from the list to follow is James Fanshawe’s Campanile in the 4.45 at Wolverhampton. The trainer could hardly be in better form. See you tomorrow.
ahorse 