2.15 York
Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3YO plus)
Winner £48,254
Pick: Rainbow View (win) Critical Moment (each/way)
Cesare: Classy veteran who is good enough to take this on his day (has been fourth and second in Queen Anne Stakes, and Fourth in Lockinge), gets on very well with Johnny Murtagh, (who’s in saddle today) and quickened up well to land 4-runner minor event at Doncaster last time; Best caught fresh and this much tougher.
Distant Memories: Tough and consistent performer who's sure to run his race, only just getting outstayed in final stages of race behind Red Badge in Newbury listed contest before coming third at Haydock last time; Hard a pretty hard race that day and may struggle bit here.
Confront: Smart miler last year but has lost his form in 2010;On face of it, this most realistic task he’s been set for some while, Stoute team have had 2 good days at this meet and booking of Oliver Peslier is a plus, but was nearer last than first in listed contest earlier this season and that tempers enthusiasm.
Halicarnassus: Tough as nuts horse who got yet another win in Dubai with a valiant all-the-way success over 1½m at Meydan in February; Been well beaten since and last behind Rainbow Peak latest, so hard to recommend.
Harrison George: Put in a number of good handicap efforts last term and has already improved on them with 2 wins this year, the first being a handicap romp off a mark of 95 and then a tight win in Conditions company; Has continued in same vein but behind Rio De La Plata last time and looks rather exposed on basis of that.
Kings Gambit: Has some very high class form (is a Grade 1 winner in South Africa in 2008) and while he hasn’t run to that level (second in 2 hot handicaps the last twice) he has held his form well; Was well beaten in second when behind Rainbow Peak and same thing looks set to happen off 2lbs worse terms.
Rainbow Peak: Showed immense promise last year when winning AW Maiden, Classified Stakes, and decent Newmarket handicap; Desperately unlucky not to win here on seasonal return, but put that right when landing immense gamble at Royal Ascot in the Wolferton last time; Looked Group class that day and major chance here.
Rio De La Plata: Looked like a potentially immense horse when landing National and Prix Jean Luc Stakes as a 2 year old, before injury curtailed plans; Has come back to form but still looks nowhere near his best and does look best at a mile now; Ran badly in soft ground last time and comes here rather quickly after that.
Vesuve: Won twice up to 11f in France for Elie Lellouche and ran up to that level in Dubai, coming midfield in decent Group 3/2 affairs; Hasn’t run up to that level since and behind Cesare last time, so a fair bit to do on face of things.
Critical Moment: Made a nice debut and got off the mark in good style on his first 2 starts as a juvenile; Has found steady improvement this year, winning a listed event at Goodwood 3 weeks ago (made most, found plenty) in good style; That form gives him chance to be there or thereabouts.
Field Of Dream: Improved drastically on all previous when beating Red Jazz in listed race at Newmarket in May, and has bettered that effort with fifth in Jersey Stakes and third behind Critical Moment last time; Needs more here but booking of Fallon could be difference.
VERDICT: A rather ordinary listed race which is there for the taking. Based on the fact that he’s progressing fast, has recent form and the yard is going well, RAINBOW PEAK gets the vote. The form of his Wolferton win has been boosted with the second filling that position in the John Smith's Cup , the fourth doing the same in the Ebor and the sixth horse landing a strong Goodwood handicap. Critical Moment will be hard to pass infront and looks a decent each/way saver.
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