Doncaster St Leger Meeting 2011 - Weatherby’s Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes

2.25 Doncaster

Weatherby’s Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (Class 2) (2yo) Winner £207,294

Advice: 2 pts win Bogart (9/2 Ladbrokes), 1 pt each/way Mehdi (10/1 general)

Reply: Looked sure to win Group races when bolting home in his maiden but not lived upto that the next twice when fifth in Phoenix and disappointing in Gimcrack last time; This too much under big weight.

Boris Grigoriev: Has proven fairly solid in Group events over 5 furlongs (shown up at Glorious Goodwood though) and looks exposed based on his laboured 4^th last time; Others stronger.

Mehdi: Bumped into a couple of useful types but finally got his reward when edging out Albany winner Samitar last time, form which gives him a big chance; Should go well.

North Star Boy: Has proven upto Group standard this season so disappointing he was so easily brushed aside by less exposed types at Windsor last time out; Booking of Kieren Fallon is interesting but others much more progressive.

Top Cop: Too raw on debut at Sailsbury so no surprise to see him get better of decent yardstick in Arnold Lane at Bath last time; Well worth a chance here and could make a bold bid.

Big Note: Huge eyecatcher when beating widest draw (stall 10) at Cheter on debut and went down to decent types next time out when second widest out; Odd race which he won last time but clearly smart to get up over odds on favorite (reopposes) at Windsor and should take some beating.

Campanology: Useful but exposed “maiden” (DQ’D on first time past post) who has bumped into a few good ones of late, but more is needed than his lastest 6^th in a Nursery if he’s to get into this; Pick of Hughes though.

Cryptic Choice: Promising enough start in newcomers race at Newmarket and maiden at Ascot; Didn’t look a sure fire winner on either occasions and this far harder.

Moon Pearl: Beat a pair of next-time-out winners at Ascot (6f) and notable that she did so for stable who don’t have too many first time out winners; Disappointed at York last time out but that forgiven in what was a strong race and can go well.

Rex Imperator: Unlucky on debut before fairly bolting up at Doncaster next time out, so disappointing that he was ran out of things at Windsor last time out; More needed.

Alejandro: Made good impression on first three starts, progressing to break maiden before being caught out wide in very strong York race; Efforts since all give him some sort of shot although he seems fairly exposed.

Arnold Lane: Made a promising winning debut with bit in hand in fair 5f Leicester maiden earlier this month (revered well from slow start, well on top despite idling late on); Fourth and second in decent contests last twice but more needed to turn around form with Top Cop.

Bogart: Defied maturing family (most of his relatives have success at middle distances, or the ages of 3 or above) to make impressive winning debut at Ayr; Didn’t fare so well when upped in class at Glorious Goodwood but sales race win last time around was clear cut and holds a big chance of going in again.

Sea Odyssey:  Built on belated maiden win with solid Nursery efforts at Brighton and then Ascot but this is a far harder task.

Shevington: Sure fire winner based on unlucky Newcastle second (Dwelt and took second close home) but not in this company.

Factory Time: Made a good impression on his first two starts, winning with plenty in hand on both occasions before Listed third at Newbury (seemingly well held); Not gone on since. 

Letsgoroundagain: Consistent colt who gained a deserved win at fourth attempt of asking but well held by both Bogart and Magic City so unlikely to reverse that form despite solid eighth last time out in DBS Sales race at Doncaster.

West Leake Diman: Impressed when taking his maiden at Haydock but even better when winning minor event at Newmarket; Disappointed at York but that forgiven and place chances here.

Cockney Dancer: Created a good impression when beating odds on shot (who had previous found a Group placed horse too good on debut) at Windsor and makes appeal for title chasing Silvestre De Sousa; Chance.

Lady’s First: Stayed on strongly under no more than a hand ride before finding one too good in strong conditions stakes at Chester last time out; Rated strongly coming from this yard, although this still harder.

Whimsical: Looked as though at least another race was needed before she reached potential when second at Salisbury last time to well-bred sort; This likely to come too soon in her career.

Betty Fontaine: Hasn’t really gone on since landing 3 races in just over three weeks and even a featherweight isn’t enough to tempt me into picking her.

VERDICT: After failing to handle the track at Goodwood, BOGART showed his true worth when bolting up in a similar event last time and in a similar race here, holds outstanding prospects. From a myriad of each/way alternatives the best option may be Mehidi, winner of a similar race last time out when overturning Group 3 winner Samitar. That form looks a touch more solid than the Andrew Balding pair of Top Cop and Big Note, while Reply could win this but would need to show his very best.