The main action this week takes place at Doncaster, culminating in the St Leger, the oldest of the English Classics, first run in 1776.
The 2.00 at Doncaster tomorrow only has 4 runners but is quite a puzzle to solve nonetheless, as a case could be made for all of them. Flying Clarets clearly appreciated the heavy going when landing the valuable John Smith’s Cup at York. She seems versatile when it comes to going as she has also won twice on good to firm in her career but I feel that she is best with some ease in the ground. She is very consistent, has winning form in small fields and looks sure to run well. The lightly raced With Interest represents connections that have won this race 4 times in the last 10 years, and with 4 wins from his 6 career starts he clearly warrants plenty of respect.
Docofthebay has run particularly well in big field handicaps finishing runner up in both the Cambridgeshire last season and this year’s Royal Hunt Cup. He can produce a telling turn of foot at the end of his races but has never won with an “s” in the going description. He has never actually won beyond a mile either although he was a close up 4th in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar over 10 furlongs so I don’t think stamina is an issue. The fourth runner, Perks has no stamina doubts. He has won a couple of handicaps this season and is clearly on the upgrade but need to improve to win here. His most recent success at Haydock proves that he handles soft ground particularly well.
I can’t really avoid making a selection in a 4 runner race, much as I am tempted to sit on the fence!. Strictly on form Flying Clarets is the pick at the weights but I will take a chance with the 3 year old Perks.
The 2.35 is a listed sprint where Galeota attempts to win the race for the second year running. The remarkable Benbaun will be one of his rivals. This horse is something of a specialist at The Curragh where his form figures read 2112211112. Perhaps it is time they named a race after him. All his best form has been on fast ground so he looks an unlikely winner tomorrow given the recent rains.
Down at Kempton Mafaaz is well regarded by connections and could go well on his debut in the 6.50, while in the 7.50 Game Park represents my list to follow. I had marked him down as a potentially well handicapped horse this season but he has been frustrating to follow. On the basis of his 3rd at Newmarket back in May he would be well up to winning this but he has tended to flatter only to deceive. A mark of 73 does not look over harsh and he is well drawn so here’s hoping that he can deliver what he has sometimes promised. Eddie Ahern rides him for the first time. He has an each way chance at around 10/1.
Moving on to Thursday,the Doncaster 2.35 looks an open race and in the past it has thrown up some big priced winners. The Jeremy Noseda trained Awinnersgame would be my tentative suggestion. He has won a couple of times this season, most recently over 7 furlongs at Newmarket. The trip should suit him although his ability to handle soft ground would have to be taken on trust.
Rose Diamond has been running well in Group 3 company and tackles a Group 2 race for the first time in the May Hill Stakes at 2.10. She is up in trip to a mile here which should not pose a problem and I can certainly see her getting into the first 3.
There are 3 runners from my list to follow in the 3.45, Royal Confidence, Floristry and Festoso. Royal Confidence won a nursery handicap over course and distance last season but has not won in 5 starts as a 3 year old, although to be fair 4 of those races were in Group company. She was 7th in the 1,000 Guineas and is probably up to winning at this level. Floristry had a most progressive profile last season winning 3 times all over 6 furlongs. She has struggled to make an impact in her 2 starts this season and tries 7 furlongs for the first time here. Her ability to handle soft ground would be a doubt. Festoso hasn’t run for nearly a year when finishing 3rd in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. The first and second that day have gone on to win big races and if Festoso is fully wound up after a lengthy absence she would be a major contender.
I will put forward a couple of possibles for the 4.50. Northern Dare is yet to win this season but he is suited by plenty of give in the ground and if he gets his conditions he could come in at a nice price. The top weight Atlantic Story has been a revelation on the all weather with 4 wins in handicaps and he is well treated here on that form.
Impressible is a half sister to Reverence and I was quite hopeful of a good run from her last time at Beverley on ground that I felt would suit. She could only finish 5th of 10 though so I would recommend a watching brief on her reappearance in the 7.50 at Great Leighs.
A couple of runners caught my eye in the line up for the maiden at 8.20. Dream Date was 4th at Kempton the other day. That was her second run and she seems to be getting the hang of things. Brian Meehan introduces a filly called Honestly who is a half sister to a useful horse called Sweet Band.
Atlantic Sport looked to be in for a successful campaign when a well backed winner at Newbury in July but has been a bit disappointing since. The trip and ground should suit and I am hoping he can bounce back to form in the Sandown 3.30.
When Infallible won her maiden at Newmarket last season I made a note of the Barry Hills trained Basanti who showed some promise in 7th place. Three runs later she is still looking for her first win having been tried at both 10 and 14 furlongs. She could be up to winning in the Brighton 3.55 on Thursday where the main threat will probably come from John Gosden’s recent Salisbury runner up Star Rocker.
The big race on Friday is the Group 2 Doncaster Cup. The magnificent Yeats has already mopped up the cup races at Ascot and Goodwood and would be hard to oppose if taking his place in the line up. Royal and Regal was only narrowly beaten in both the Yorkshire Cup and the Henry II Stakes and surely it is only a matter of time before he wins one of these. I suspect that he needed the race when 7th at Deauville recently and he could go well at Doncaster.
The picture below is of Canon Can who won a strong renewal of the Yorkshire Cup back in 1997. The legendary Persian Punch was 2nd and Double Trigger 4th. Canon Can was trained by Henry Cecil and Kieren Fallon was the jockey that day at Doncaster.
The mention of Double Trigger gives me the chance to trot out a piece of turf trivia. When he won the Goodwood Cup in 1995 his full brother was runner up. I think this is probably the only instance of full brothers finishing 1st and 2nd in a Group race.
I am now off for a few days in the sun so I will be away for the St Leger on Saturday. At the moment I would put forward a short list of 3. The O’Brien team have won just about everything else so it would be foolhardy not to include at least one runner from Ballydoyle. The trainer seems to be playing down the chance of Frozen Fire the Irish Derby winner. If he gets the trip OK he would be in with a big chance in my view.
It is a well publicised statistic that Sir Michael Stoute is yet to train the St Leger winner. I am not sure that we should avoid his runners for that reason though, quite the opposite in fact. Trends can be misleading as Katchit showed in the Champion Hurdle. Sir Michael’s Conduit won the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood last time out and that race has been a fair guide to the St Leger in the past. For my third suggestion I will choose the Oaks winner Look Here. Fillies do not often line up for this race but those that do tend to figure prominently.
I will leave you with a few other horses to look out for. The following 2 year olds are all entered over the next week; Almiqdaad, Cool Art, Himalya, Majestic Lady, Mrs Kipling, Ouqba and Tropical Paradise.
I have also had a good report about the 6 year old Cupid’s Glory who won at Great Leigh’s last week and looks one to keep on the right side.
Next update will be 18 September.
The pictures today are by kind permission of the artist Margaret Barrett (see links for more examples of this artists work)
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