3.50 Doncaster
Eddie Stobart Park Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3YO plus)
Winner £90,832
Picks: Premio Loco (win), Rainfall (each/way)
Arabian Gleam: Twice a winner of the this race under Johnny Murtagh, and ran well enough in last year’s renewals; Not been given fair crack of whip this year either, as he needed the run badly first time out and got no run in the Maurice De Gheest last time; No surprise to see him ounce back but absence of Johnny Murtagh major negative.
Balthzaar’s Gift: Has been getting better and better and reached new heights with impressive Group 2 win in this race last year; Hasn’t run at all badly behind Starspangledbanner this year on both occasions, and respectable efforts in the Betfair Cup at Goodwood and Hungerford Stakes last time; More needed here tough.
Cat Junior: Consistent horse who has been hard to win with, despite a number of good runs in strong company; Looked good when winning Group 3 at Meydan before disappointing when ninth behind Calming Influence and in Queen Anne but right back to best with fast closing seconds in Betfair Cup ad Hungerford Stakes; This tougher but always there or thereabouts in race of this type.
Duff: Game front running winner of this race last year, but simply hasn’t been anywhere near as good this season; Those efforts look like a horse who is past his best.
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 been exposed since though and this is a tough affair.
High Standing: Has made up into a very high class sprinter over the past year and a half and got not run until last furlong in Maurice De Gheest, so very encouraging to see him making such fast late progress into third; If repeating that form, major player but form of Maurcie De Gheest doesn’t look very strong and he will have to deal with many other types.
Himalaya: Made highly encouraging debut over 6f and backed up that with 4th in Coventry Stakes which has worked out very well since (1st 3 infront of him all Group 1 winners since); Hasn’t reached that form but shown admirable consistency since, racking up a series of cracking placed efforts in top handicaps over 6f/7f this summer; Good runs the last twice but hard to win with.
Quqba: Really took off in 2009, improving from handicap company in April to a very near miss in Group 2 at Newmarket in October; Still improving rapidly this year based on his Lockinge Stakes second to Paco Boy, although he did get first run and was comfortably beaten; Hasn’t reached that form since, coming well beaten seventh in Queen Anne and moderate fourth (hampered) in Summer Mile; Only moderate run when third to Shakespearian and no obvious reason why he should build on that.
Palace Moon: Has shown some very smart form this season, third in Wokingham at Ascot and runner-up in Bunbury Cup at Newmarket; Hasn’t been up to listed level latest so hard to see him winning this race.
Premio Loco: Notched up a Group 2 double last backend in Germany and has seemingly improved again this year based on his wins in the Criterion Stakes and Summer Mile; Ran great race to come second to Rip Van Winkle and Canford Cliffs in Sussex and must hold the best chance of taking this If repeating that.
Serious Attitude: Hasn’t reached heights of promising 2 year old career (won Cheverly Park) this year and while she takes a slight drop in class, this is no easy test and stamina questions to answer.
Shakesperian: Tough reliable sort who gained big Goffs Million Mile win last season, holding off Marfach all the way to the line and was a respectable sixth to St Nicholas Abbey in Racing Post Trophy on last start for Mark Johnston; Won well on Godolphin debut at Epsom to start season but had been seemingly exposed since in better races; However, dangerous when allowed to go infront, and beat field rated much higher when allowed lead in Hungerford; Has to be doubts about him if he doesn’t get an easy lead, but one to keep an eye on.
Rainfall: Has improved markedly with every single run, romping home on debut before coming close second in Haydock listed race; Then stepped up on that to land Jersey Stakes and was making late headway in Falmouth Stakes at the end; Weakened fairly easily pout of the frame behind Goldikova in Prix Astarte but drop back in trip will help, and booking of Fallon great help.
VERDICT: These kinds of affairs are fast becoming the most difficult races to solve, with many horses on the fringe of Group 1 company or even Group 1 perfomers dropping back, and handicappers stepping up, not to mention the specialist distance. If Shakesperian gets an easy lead, he will be mightily hard to pass, but hopefully the others will be aware of that possibility today. This is PREMIO LOCO’S best season yet and assuming the ground stays the same, he should take all the beating based on his career best behind Canford Cliffs and Rip Van Winkle. It was hard to pick between RAINFALL and High Standing for the each/way saver, with the former getting the vote o the basis that her form is better.
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