August 5 – Haydock – Atacama Desert – 100
It says a lot about the standard of the times during a week when a race such as the ‘Ahonoora’ Handicap at Galway with a speed rating of 98 doesn’t make the list, and one of the contests that muscled its way in was this extended 1m3f handicap. As is his want, Colinton made sure the pace was solid from the start and that set things up nicely for Kevin Frost’s gelding who stalked the gallop going well before being delivered with his winning challenge. The way he strode clear in the closing stages suggested he had plenty more left in the tank and he rates one to keep on side even when reassessed.
August 6 – Haydock – Anmaat – 105
Impressive when recorded a big number in The John Smith’s Handicap at York, Owen Burrow’s gelding scaled even greater heights in making the transition into Group company a seamless one and based on the manner of his victory, he could be capable of a good deal more. The way he travelled into a strong pace set him apart from the rest and the fact he managed to make the strongly-fancied Grocer Jack (fast time previously) look relatively slow, just puts into context the levels of performance he achieved. Not entered in any big races towards the backend of the season, that oversight may need to be rectified sooner rather than later.
August 6 – Ascot – Jungle Cove – 102
Shergar Cup day may not be for every punter – certainly not the purists among the betting fraternity – but it does produce competitive racing and the pick of the figures came in the shape of this contest over a mile on the round track. In-keeping with how many previous winners tend to score at the Berkshire venue, Jessica Harrington’s grey came from some way off the pace to win going away and it would come as no surprise if he were to venture over the Irish Sea again at some stage later in the season.
August 6 – Redcar – Lion’s Tower – 99
The mere presence of Azano in the field was always likely to produce a well-run affair and so it proved. Once the front runner fainted inside the final furlong, Grant Tuer’s gelding was the one best placed to take advantage and in fending off the late challenge of the well-fancied Golden Voice, he added another notable success to his cv. A track specialist at York, it would come as little surprise if he were asked to go again on the Knavesmire in two weeks’ time.
August 6 – Newmarket – Mitrosonfire – 99
The free-going Typhoon Ten took this small field along at a healthy gallop right from the start and it played into the hands of the strong-finishing winner who was held up towards the rear. On the evidence of this display, stamina won him the race and the son of Lethal Force clearly has a future over seven-furlongs.
August 6 – Curragh – Little Big Bear – 97
We’ve seen some freakishly good two-year-olds so far this season, our times bearing testimony to that view, but none of them come close to what Aidan O’Brien’s colt achieved in this Group 1 at the Co Kildare venue. Taking on two of the best juveniles from the UK, the son of No Nay Never had to raise his game to another level and he did so with plenty to spare. Dictating matters from the front, just like he’d done the time before, the powerfully built colt left his smart rivals for dead inside the final furlong and in clocking a similar overall time and backend sectionals to the 112-rated Go Bears Go over the same C&D, he posted the fastest time we’ve recorded from a juvenile in the past decade. Whether he ends up a staying a mile only time will tell, but for now, he will be almost impossible to beat before that decision has to be made.