Darley July Cup 2011

3.35 Newmarket

Darley July Cup (British Champions' Series And Global Sprint Challenge) (Group 1) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner £226,840 Good

Pick: Star Witness & Amico Frtiz (each/way)

Amico Fritz: Creditable fifth even though he raced stands – side (bias) in Golden Jubilee last year and found himself on the wrong side when sixth in the same race this year, coming well clear but racing away from principals ;As good a chance as any if he can get the run of the race.

Bated Breath: Unbeaten in first three and excuses when beaten on first tires in Group company last year; First run was write off & very impressive in winning last two races, both strong enough contests; New career best on ground that wouldn’t have suited when fifth in the Golden Jubilee and can do better still.

Dalghar: Found plenty of success dropping back to 6/7f last year after fifth in strong renewal of 2011 Queen Anne, albeit without winning; Comeback run for this yard was encouraging but beaten miles in Golden Jubilee and others preferred once again here.

Delegator: Not long ago since he was taking big hand in high class mile races, and shaped as if ability was there last season before injury (bruised foot) intervened; Made successful return to sprinting when mowing down field in Duke Of York Stakes; That form now needs improving on and would want ground as fast as possible.

Genki: Smart handicapper/group horse who held himself up with high credit, namely when third in Betfair Sprint Cup and also winning his group in Wokingham; Successful reappearance in Abernant Stakes was solid form for the level & respectable run in Golden Jubilee; Smooth winner of Group 3 but this is far harder.

Hitchens: Made transition from top-end handicaps to listed company late last year, winning 6f event on AW; Efforts the last thrice not backed up that form, so fourth in York Group 2 sprint looked like result to be treated with caution; Good winner of Greenlands Stakes but that form not really working out and looks exposed, an impression confirmed by his unplaced finish in the Golden Jubilee.

Jimmy Styles: Won 6f Listed race at Doncaster earlier this season but had race fitness on his side and never going pace to challenge in Abernant Stakes won by Genki; Similar scenario when ninth in Jubilee.

Moinesur Chevalier: Brilliant juvenile, winning Super Sprint & Molecomb stakes in a season that read 6 from 8; Off track for long time afterwards but made good late headway in strong looking listed race (first run back); Shaped as if he wants 6f when running on late in King’s Stand and Golden Jubilee second makes him the one to beat.

Regal Parade: Confirmed himself top class in winning Maurice De Gheest and Hackwood last year, although bettered both those efforts when fourth in Prix De La Foret; Things didn’t work out for him on seasonal reappearance but back to best when beating all but Delegator in Duke Of York (slowly away); Hasn’t confirmed that impression in two other starts and would want soft ground.

Star Witness: Crack Australian sprinter and dual Group 1 winner, having taken 2010 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield and Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington last October, efforts good enough to win this; Run some cracking races since, getting within 4 lengths of Black Caviar in Patinack Farm Classic; Second in King’s Stand was a good effort but looked like best horse in race when tiring late on in soft ground at Ascot; Major chance.

War Artist: Top class sprinter over many seasons and if judged on his close second to JJ The Jet Plane, then he’s as good as ever; Confirmed that in King’s Stand but this a tough task even for one of his race.

Winker Watson: High class juvenile (winner of the Norfolk and July Stakes in 2007) & back from stud to run this season; Showed some ability when sixth on comeback but this yet harder.

Swiss Diva: Nothing short of brilliant last season, steadily progressing in recording a hat – trick of, all on soft ground, highlight when trashing rivals in Prix Petit Couvert; Unplaced in L’Abbaye however and likely to need softer ground, as looked the case when unplaced on his comeback in the King’s Stand.

Dream Ahead: Brilliant juvenile over 6f, bolting in by 9 lengths on debut, & Coped with fast – track to Group 1 in exemplary fashion when smoothly winning Prix Morny in great style; Ran above even that when running away with Middle Park (soft ground seemed to suit); Dewhurst disappointment could be put down to keenness and poor start and comeback run behind classy sorts in St James’s Palace Stakes gives a lot of hope; Rain helps chances too.

Elzaam: Successful juvenile campaign, only just being caught by Strong Suit in the Coventry before muddling defeats in conditions contest (behind July Stakes winner) and when caught close home in Horris Hill; Made amends for not staying 7f on reappearance when bolting up in Listed contest and unsuited by ground (like many others) in Golden Jubilee when he was fourth; Can do better still.

Libranno: Closely matched with quite a few of these based on his Listed third and better again when beating Stablemate in Criterion Stakes here; Has some good form but not the best of his age group in this.

Oracle: Seemingly lost his way at 2yo, but right back to best and progressing again this season, when fourth in Listed event on comeback & career best when third in Irish Guineas; Jersey Stakes fourth is more than fair form and fascinating dropped back in trip for stable who have good record in this.

VERDICT: A good renewal, if not one that’s slightly muddled by the weather and possibly the draw, with no more than 9 coming here off the back of a soft ground Golden Jubilee and 2 from the King’s Stand. Of all of those, STAR WITNESS shaped like the best horse by some distance when coming too late and then too soon in both races and back on a more regular surface he can gain a first Group 1 win before being sent off to stud. Amico Fritz, who was shafted by the bias when racing alone and coming sixth in the Jubilee, can go well at a big price. Delegator still has something to prove as a sprinter while Elzaam and Bated Breath are major contenders, although none carry quite the appeal of Dream Ahead at his best.