3.05 Royal Ascot (Day 4, Race 2)
King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3YO only)
Winner £99,242
Advice: 1 pt each/way Mutashaded (7/1 general)
Battle of Marengo: had the look of a top staying 3yo from
his early days when landing Listed event and then Beresford Stakes, and won two
preferred Irish Derby trials before fourth in the Derby at Epsom, setting won
modest gallop before sticking on well for fourth; That form sets a very high
standard here and more of a worry is how he’s recovered and whether he’s crying
out for 1m4f; Not always pulled through with effort on fast ground. 
Contribuiter: Wouldn’t want to judge him based on latest
defeat in two runner listed event but even then winner was very progressive and
Group 3 second to Magician obviously looks good now; Should go well here upped
in trip and not discounted. 
Fantastic Moon: Looked to be a very smart colt when
following up debut win with Solario Stakes success, but not shown same form
since, albeit not much gone right for him since (blocked in run in Group 2 and
then missed break at Breeders’ Cup); Needs to simply do better then return but
only the 5 runs and if he can finally settle better, looks as if he’d stay the
1m4f; 
Greatwood: Big disappointment in Dante Stakes but everything
before that had suggested he’d enjoy step upto 1m4f, closing rapidly to
Windhoek in Newmarket listed event, and that form was boosted with Listed win;
Needs to find yet more. 
Havana Beat: Useful form in four starts so far, well behind
Derby winner Ruler of the World when not liking the steady pace and small
field; Behind Greatwood in sales race at Newmarket before that and looks held
on that basis however. 
Hillstar: Plenty of debut promise shown at Sandown and then
a good winner at Leicester when well backed favourite; Possibly slightly
disappointing when beaten twice at odds on in handicaps this term but those
both strong events and surely going to enjoy stepping up in trip here, so
shortlisted.
Mutashaded: Plenty to like about the way he got job done in
1m Yarmouth maiden (heavy ground) and then when following up in Sandown
handicap (1m2f, strong at the end); Form of both races matches up to little or
nothing but more to come for 1m4f and still worth taking a chance on here. 
Tah’ir: Impressive winner of Chesham Stakes here last year
and never let himself down in group company since barring his last in Prix Jean
Luc; Lot of strong form to his name and no surprise to see him go well.
VERDICT: If Battle of Marengo is in the same form as he was
when fourth in the Derby then defeat would be disappointing but he’s had just
20 day s to recover from that, didn’t convince totally in his start before
that, and doesn’t seem to be crying for a strongly run 1m4f, should that be the
case today, while only one winner has come from the Derby to win the King
Edward. At odds on, he comes with risks attached against a field that still has
something to offer, for all collateral form is worth little, and the way in
which MUTASHADED stretched out to land a Sandown handicap over 10f suggests we
could see a different horse today at his first start over this extended
distance and he gets the each/way vote ahead of Hillstar and Contributer.
No comments:
Post a Comment