Oh So Sharp Stakes 2011

1.15 Newmarket

Sakhee Oh So Sharp Stakes (Fillies' Group 3) (Class 1)  (2YO only)

Winner £19,281

Advice: 1 pt win Rakasa (4/1 Hills)

Albaspina: Won with something to spare despite doing just about everything wrong (off the bridle before even halfway) at Carlisle so it says something for her chances that she got up with plenty to spare; Can go well here.

Alsindi: Slow start proved no problem when winning her maiden with ease from fair field for the level (second, well held, has since been beaten at evens on AW); No surprise if she was to do well again here although this stiff test.

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 harshly judged based on fact she was unplaced in very competitive sales race last time out, although this no easier here.

Desert Gazelle: $400,000 yearling who was very impressive when winning by wide margin at July Meeting first time up, and effort in Sweet Solera is unflattering  given that she was posted well wide and nothing could have coped with impressive winner; Interesting here.

Elusive Flame: Knuckled down well to make it 2 wins at Doncaster last time when getting up close home in competitive but only fair Nursery; Interesting that she should  come here but others make far more appeal.

Emirates Art: Given easy time of things when third on debut before winning Yarmouth maiden;’ Supplemented that with hard fought win in Lingfield minor event and others might be better/less exposed.

Minidress: Won newcomers maiden in great style here, giving hope that she could live upto lofty pedigree; Of obvious interest but it must be noted that stable have to better options and form taken some knocks; Another day might await.

Nayarra: Found only one too good on all 4 of her starts in maidens and held herself with credit despite being flattered by slow gallop when just behind Questioning and Rakasa; Both should beat her again.

Questing: Never in danger when creating huge impression at Newbury on debut, beating a pair who both won next time out; Good effort after blowing the start when third and just behind Rakasa at Goodwood; Should go well again.

Rakasa: Created a good impression when coming from long way back to land Goodwood maiden and better again when nearly taking advantage of clear run against Regal Realm (Just ahead of 

Questing and Nayarra; Should take the beating if in that form again.

Villeneuve: Too green when held up on debut (got unbalanced over 3f out before drifting left) and bolted up with that behind her at second time of asking; 6f AW maiden probably didn’t have much to it but respected nevertheless.

VERDICT: As is the norm, plenty here can improve significantly, not least Alsindi and Albaspina. They’ll have to be pretty smart to beat the Godolphin pair of RAKASA and Desert Gazelle, both of whom boast impressive form after just two runs themselves.