Great Voltigeur Stakes 2012

3.05 York

Neptune Investment Management Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)  (3YO only)

Winner £89,872

Thomas Chippendale: Well liked as 2yo but made progress hand over fist this season, progressing from handicaps into group horse with aid of step up to this trip; Way he came through late to pick up rivals in King Edward Stakes at Royal Ascot suggested he was prime contender for Leger and gives him great chance today but 3lbs penalty with two off these close behind puts one off his chance in stronger race; Still respected.

Encke: Extremely promising as a 2yo, missing Racing Post Trophy after deeply impressive win at Newmarket; Truncated season so far but seemed to have retained all ability when winning handicap on return at Sandown and then pushed Noble Mission to a nose in Goodwood’s Gordon Stakes; Can do better in time (this his 5^th start) and respected.

Energizer: Really improving at rate of knots in Germany and extremely impressive when winning Tercentnary Stakes last time at Ascot, shaping as if he would only improve for the step up in trip; Since moved to Godolphin and very much respected here tackling trip he’s sure to enjoy; Interesting.

Main Sequence: Highly progressive for racing and stepping up in trip, winning two good handicaps at Newmarket and then the Lingfield Derby trial before second in the main event, snatching second on the line from tired runner up; Underlined his class with desperately unlucky fourth in Grand Prix De Paris where he may well have won according to some with clear run; That shows he’s suited towards a sprint or a strongly run race and the one to beat if on his game.

Noble Mission: Full brother to Frankel who is now very useful in his own right, beaten just half a length by Thomas Chippendale at Royal Ascot (form he may well reverse on 3lbs better terms); Hugely deserved win in Gordon Stakes latest came by just a nose over Encke but still improving and might have been sent on a touch too soon for his own good there (travelled extremely well).

Thought Worthy: Brother to 2007 winner of this and Leger Lurcarno who has since proven to hold similar ability, winning Listed event under penalty, and then coming fourth in Derby, albeit a long way behind Main Sequence; In mind of that, he did well to be beaten just a half-length into third in King Edward Stakes after quick reappearance.

VERDICT: An extremely strong Leger trial but they’ll all have to go some to catch MAIN SEQUENCE, who followed up his Derby second (a piece of form which gives him the beating of at least half the field in this race) with a luckless fourth in the Grand Prix De Paris, the form of which was boosted when Saint Baudolino bolted up in a Deauville Group 2 next time out. Henry Cecil holds an extremely strong hand with Thomas Chippendale and Noble Mission, of which the latter is preferred on 3lbs better terms. Encke and Energizer must be feared (the latter of which seems too big given how much he looks like he’ll improve for a step up in trip) while Thought Worthy must be a given a  chance for all he looks exposed.