Jockey Club Stakes 2012

2.30 Newmarket

Qatar Bloodstock Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £56,710

Advice: 3 pts win Meandre (2/1 Paddy Power, Bet365)

Dunaden: Made rapid progress throughought last year, crowned by his Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Vase double at the backend of last year, quickening up well to get up close home at Sha Tin; That form amongst the best in the field and deserves massive respect here despite 5lbs penalty.

Masked Marvel: Masked Marvel: Regained earlier promise shown on debut when an impressive winner of the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood, easily beating a useful but limited field; Well held in Derby but right back to best when winning Group 3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket and backed that up with great St Ledger win, relishing the extra staying test in strongly run race; Last in Arc but well over the top by that time (trainer says that race took edge off him) and deserves large amount of respect here.

Al Kazeem: Runner up in three group races last year, all to rapidly progressive horses (especially when running into Beaten Up at Newbury last time); Not out of question he could be better this year rather than last but needs more here.

Blue Bajan: Rolled back the years when landing Henry II Stakes at Sandown on third start of last year and needs so much more here right down in trip with several Group 1 winners at their best trip.

Fiorente: Caught eye on debut behind World Domination at Newbury and bolted up next time out as was expected at same course; Marked himself down as a Group winner in waiting when going under the tress at Ascot but still managing second to Nathaniel (who has subsequently won King George) from poor position, before close second to Nambian at Goodwood; Should come on from 3 to 4 and likeable prospect.

Meandre: Slow developer but got act together through midsummer as so many of his stable have done, especially when making remarkable ground to win Prix L‘Avre and Grand Prix De Paris, beating pair of very solid yardsticks with Reliable Man well held in third; That form reversed in Niel pretty convincingly but stable had Virus when he ran in Niel and Arc sixth still a good effort; No penalty for Group 1 win and should take the beating.

Quest For Peace: Progressive for Ballydoyle last season when winning Lenanbane Stakes with more than a bit in hand, and looked like one to follow when landing Cumberland Lodge in good style; respectable fifth in Canadian Group 1 but might need to improve here.

Sadeek’s Song: Came forward with every run last year, following up Nottingham maiden win with third in well contest d York handicap (that gave him a rating of 90); Now 13lbs higher after getting the better of group placed/winner Colmbian in Leicester conditions stakes; Should go onto better things but suspicion is that ground played a big part in things that day (second showed all his form on ground with cut) and much more needed.

VERDICT: This is a vintage renewal and a race more deserving of Group 1 status, with 3 winners at the highest level along with two who threaten to make the step up to the highest level. MEANDRE looked like a colt with a future in the Grand Prix De Paris and has realistic excuses for his last two poor shows, so he gets a strong vote for a yard that has won this twice in recent years with Getaway and Shirocco. He gets 5lbs from Melbourne Cup/Hong Kong Vase winner Dunaden and St Ledger winner Masked Marvel, which could make all the difference at the end. Quest For Peace and Al Kazeem look to be improvers.