Royal Lodge Stakes 2012

1.55 Newmarket

Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)  (2YO only)

Winner £56,710

Advice: 1 pt win Steeler (5/2 general) 

Treble: 1 pt Steeler (5/2, 1.55 Newmarket), Rosdhu Queen (5/1, 2.25 Newmarket), Elusive Kate(5/2 Bet365, 3.00 Newmarket) (73.5 Bet365) 

Al Waab: Danehill Dancer colt out of a useful 1m2f who was deeply promising in two easy wins over the July Course (7f) before stepping up to a mile when just beaten by Group 3 winner Havana Gold at Haydock when trying to pull him back on flatter mile than this; Should go well.

Artigiano: Coventry fifth who has since gotten even closer to Olympic Glory on two occasions, firstly when fourth in Superlative on July Course and then when second in the Vintage (on 3lbs better terms); Should enjoy the mile and be aggressively ridden, so interesting if not more exposed than most.

Birdman: Really effective on heavy ground, closing fast on Olympic Glory during the Superlative Stakes and then closing third in the Futurity Stakes without ever looking as if he’d get to the line in time; This looks harder than both of those assignments and ground likely to be too quick for him.

Excess Knowledge: Being a half-brother to Rain Mac out of 1m4f Listed winner, was always going to be one for next year so did very well to win slowly run race on his debut before second in the Washington Singer Stakes that his trainer had won three times in last 7 years; Back at a mile, he can go well although this is a very tough renewal.

Fantastic Moon: Showed his scope for improvement when beating four previous winners in novice event on July course and telling late turn of foot when winning Sandown’s Solario Stakes marked him out as an extremely promising colt for the future; Form is as strong as any but really exciting to see just how much improvement he finds for the mile.

Mocenigo: Should have no problem with the extra furlong given that his dam was a winner over 1m2f and just over 2 lengths behind Fantastic Moon last time in Sandown Group 3 last time, but little chance of turning that form around.

One Word More: Lost no caste in finishing third to Asdan last time out at Doncaster but when he was second in Deavuille Listed contest he showed promise for the future and that race worked out fairly well at the least; Lot of ground to make up with the principals on that form.

Steeler: Showed significant promise on first two starts when clearly crying out for a mile and best effort yet when runner up in York’s Acomb Stakes, coming from behind to give Champagne Stakes second Dundonell a good race in latter stages, where he wasn’t helped by the slow gallop; Found trouble in running at Goodwood but still won nicely and expect to see best of him at a mile today on this track.

VERDICT: Being out of a Park Hill winner, STEELER was always going to need a mile so his hugely encouraging efforts over seven furlongs are just tantalising considering the likely strong pace and stiff finish that should prevail today. While he faces a very strong field, there’s reason to believe that he can find a great deal of improvement for the step up in trip and on that basis – especially given a line through Dundonell, who has since come a close second to Toronado in the Champagne Stakes, the pair in turn clear of Thair, who Fantastic Moon only just beat in the Solario (albeit coming from behind with more to come). Fantastic Moon should relish this test of a mile and did well to thin the Solario so must be the main threat, while Alfonso De Sousa must be respected as one of 4 Ballydoyle entries given their record in the race, although he was behind Steeler who in turn should improve. Al Waab will enjoy the stiff finish and has had a recent form.