Geoffrey Freer Stakes 2010

2.30 Newbury
CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3YO plus)
Winner £32,359

Pick: Kite Wood (win)

Kite Wood: Only just beaten in St Ledger last year after winning this race and continued in same vein when winning Prix Vietcommesse Viger in good style on seasonal debut; Failed to stay in Gold Cup and can be judged much better than that, so major chance in suitable race under penalty.

Sans Frontiers: Very talented and very lightly raced colt who has an excellent level of form; Taken time to come to hand after injury but realising promise in good style, winning Princess Of Wales’s Stakes impressively last time; Booking of Johnny Murtagh major plus and shaped as if he would stay when winning last time.

Aaim To Prosper: Solid handicapper who has run well in Acscot Stakes and Northumberland Plate this season; Missed a decent opportunity last time and this much tougher.

Blizzard Blues: Sprung a surprise when landing 10 furlong Newmarket maiden (blinkers on); Would have really benefitted from having those on when racing far too freely in conditions company; Ran promising race in very strong renewal of John porter but ran very flat last time and possibly one to swerve on comeback trail.

Dangerous Midge: Seemingly talented but erratic customer, (successful on 4 of 8 starts on racecourse) who looked horse with a major future when landing handicap easily on seasonal debut; Disappointed the next twice but one of most impressive handicap winners all year when dotting up in Old Newton Cup last time; If transferring that to Group company major player but record isn’t perfect after wins.

Golden Sword: Brave front runner for the Ballydoyle team last year in both English and Irish Derby and King George, and ran to similar level when third in Dubai; Has a lot of improving to do for new yard judged on run in Glorious Stakes last time, maybe best watched.

Laaheb: Won 3 out of his 6 starts last year, including a decent listed event that has worked out OK since; Built on that again when coming third behind Redwood and Glass Harmonium before seemingly regressing when beaten at Goodwood next; Back to form last time out but form of that race hardly been advertised.

Pompeyano: Best effort when fourth to Campanologist in Group 2 at Meydan in March for Satish Seema but form rather hit and miss even then and although he won a 4 runner race at Epsom last time, this is much tougher.
Saptapadi: Lightly raced 4 year old, having run very well in Group company on 2 out of his 4 starts last year; Returned with good win in Doncaster maiden before throwing away Henry II Stakes in last furlong; Ran badly amiss last time but if back to form major player too.

VERDICT: A good solid race for the level. Dangerous Midge looked easily group class when bolting up in the Old Newton Cup and if showing the same form here, will play a major part. However he had run below form after a good win and this is much tougher. Saptapadi is going to take a major hand if back to his best, too. This could be fought between the 2 penalised horses, Sans Frontiers and KITE WOOD, who looked like he was progressing into a top stayer last year and showed promise when beating Kasbah Bliss in the Prix Viger at Longchamp. With the trip in his favour, he is taken to come out on top.