Just A Game Stakes 2011

9.43 Belmont

Foxwoods Just A Game Stakes (Grade 1) (3yo+ Fillies & Mares) (Turf) (3yo+) Winner £153,846

Pick: Avaite (win)

Gypsy’s Warning: Knocking at the door in this company all last season when third in the Beverley D / Yellow Ribbon Stakes & gained a deserved success when clear cut winner of the Matriarch Stakes; Never going in the Jenny Wiley Stakes on her seasonal return but ground too short for her and major player here.

Avaite: Bordering on top ranks in Europe last year for Henry Cecil, but struggled to break into Group 1 company once she had won the Musidora; Has made a fast start to her US racing career, using return as a springboard to clear cut success in Churchill Distaff Turf Mile latest; That performance suggests she will take some stopping this year.

Amen Halleujah: One of the best 3yo’s in 2010/11, beaten only a ½ length on this corresponding card in Acorn Stakes; Hasn’t run quite upto that form since but second and third the last twice in Grade 1 races were solid efforts (very good renewal of the Humana Distaff); Can be involved if on form.

C. S. Silk: Has run light more than once this season, a solid effort in the Endeavour Stakes backed up by two unplaced efforts; Good enough to have her say, as her close second to Proviso last season shows, but big question over whether she is consistent enough to do so.

Strike The Bell: Winner of the Noble Damsel and another allowance race; Also second by a head in the Miss Liberty at Monmouth and sixth in the Ballston Spa Handicap, but those efforts leave her with a lot more to do.

Fantasia: Once top class in Europe and has found relative success here, although her only success has been in River Memories Stakes; Knocking at the door this season, second in the Jenny Wiley Stakes but well behind Avaite last time out and surprising to see form reversal.

Cherokee Queen: Ran to a two-length victory in the Suwannee River at Gulfstream on her seasonal debut, but a well beaten fourth in the Hillsbrough Stakes last time and this far harder.

Much Rejoicing: Prepped for this in the six-furlong Gila Stakes here; After tracking pace, she pulled away to a 11/2-length advantage in her turf debut; Well beaten on most starts in top company however and this another occasion.

Justaroundmidnight: Another European import who was no better than second on all of her starts; Instantly improved to win Marshua’s River at odds in her first start since late June at Monmouth Park; Came back against male rivals in the Gulfstream Turf Handicap and finished eighth, and the eighth again last time; This too hard.

VERDICT: AVIATE can give Bill Mott a second consecutive win in the race and his fifth overall, at the expense of Fantasia & Gypsy’s Warning. The former Henry Cecil filly was extremely impressive when careering away with the Churchill Distaff Turf mile and will take the beating again.