Geoffrey Freer Stakes 2010

3.05 Newbury

CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)
Winner £28,355

Pick: Brown Panther (each/way & win)

All The Aces: Made a very promising comeback that confirms he retains all his ability when nearly snatching third in a strong Listed contest over 10 furlongs; Can be given a chance here but this possible harder and must avoid bounce factor.

Alwaary: Fourth in King George at Ascot 2 years ago but not managed to reach that level since and needs to show return to form before being backed.

Chiberta King: Seemingly lost his way a little bit but back in form when fourth in fiercely contested long – distance handicap before winning easily; Made to work hard for Listed success last time out Sandown and not upto the Goodwood Cup, so others preferred.

Claremont: Managed to get the better of Opinion Poll when winning in Dubai earlier in the year but failed to back that up afterwards and this looks too hard after a layoff.

Mores Wells: Beaten just a head by Joshua Tree in the Canadian International at Woodbine last autumn, before finishing down the field in the Japan Cup & as good as ever when he defied a welter burden defied a welter burden to land the Grand Prix de Lyon; Behind Times Up last time out and others preferred.

Times Up: Resumed progression from last season (when ready winner of November Handicap) when winning big handicap and then when running out a ready winner of a Listed event; Gap s didn’t come for him in Group 2 (should have won) and big chance here.

Meezenah: Behind 2 pattern winners on her two juvenile starts and improved no end for step up to 12 furlongs when trashing maiden field by 9 lengths & steady improvement for the rest of the year, when making frame in 3 consecutive Oaks; Not at that level this season until winning well at Goodwood last time out and should make another bold bid.

Brown Panther: Made rapid progress this season, culminating in 6 length Royal Ascot romp (Census in second only 3lbs better off); Only 5^th when upped to Group 1 company last time but better than that having tried to make all at too strong a pace from an awful draw, only getting passed in last furlong; Can go well here.

Buthelezi: Had his quirks but still rapidly progressive as a juvenile when winning maiden and nursery & confirmed his progress when winning competitive handicap on seasonal reappearance; Exclleed himself last time but well beaten in third and has it harder here.

Census: Took time to come to hand as a 2yo but impressive in breaking maiden when stepped up to a mile and yet more progress when upped in trip this season, taking handicap at Newbury impressively before doing best of those held up when it paid to race prominently in the King George Handicap at Royal Ascot (no guarantee he would have beaten Brown Panther with different tactics, although he is now 3lbs better off); Progressed again when second last time but can’t be that quirky if he wants to win this.

Yaseer: Made encouraging debut when chasing home Derby hope Carlton House at Newbury in October, before readily landing odds at Kempton on AW (odds-on); Clearly improved as a three year old based on Craven third (forgetting Dante sixth) and Gordon Stakes fourth was very much under the radar; Can do well.

VERDICT: As hot a Group 3 as we could be seeing all season. The two main older horses  (Meezenah and Times Up) will be tough to beat but there’s a suspicion that BROWN PANTHER is better than he showed in the German Derby and he can bounce back here, once again beating Census, who needs to run straight today.