September 14 – Yarmouth – Shaara – 99
Winner of her two previous starts at a lower level, John & Thady Gosden’s took the step up in grade in her stride to land a competitive listed fillies’ contest in gutsy fashion and the clock added plenty of substance to the performance. A smooth traveller who also stays the 1m2f trip really well, the daughter of Shamardal can take her game to an even higher level.
September 15 – Chelmsford – City Walk – 100
A massive flop on the turf at York previously, Saeed Bin Suroor’s gelding bounced back to his very best form on his return to a more favourable surface and it would come as no surprise if he was campaigned specifically on the all-weather in future. Now 2-2 at the Essex venue, the son of Brazen Beau seems to really thrive in a well-run environment and with these kind of events usually run to suit, he can continue to make hay either in quality handicaps or at listed level.
September 16 – Ayr – Gale Force Maya – 102
A fifth win of the season for Michael Dods’ mare and this performance has to go down as the pick of the bunch. Always up with the speed, she once again made sure it was a proper test once picking up the running from two furlongs out and even though there was an anxious moment when the fast-finishing Pink Crystal burst out of the pack, the daughter of Gale Force Ten had enough up her sleeve to repel the late challenge. One of the most consistent horses at a high level we have based on her numbers over the last two seasons, she continues to be a credit to her trainer. The runner-up is also one to note as she didn’t get the clearest of runs in her pursuit of the winner. Clearly miles better than her rating at the time (88) even her new mark of 96 probably do her justice and she can pick up a similar event before too long.
September 16 – Ayr – Prince Of Pillo – 97
Fourth in the Flying Childers behind two smart juveniles previously, Keith Dalgleish’s colt paid a handsome complement to Trillium and The Platinum Queen by capturing this listed prize in some style and in doing so, he posted a time figure right up there with the very best we have from a two-year-old so far this season. Clearly better suited by the faster ground at the Scottish venue than the soft conditions on Town Moor, it would come as no surprise if he were found another opportunity to show what he can do between now and the end of the campaign and on this evidence, it will take a good one to lower his colours.
September 16 – Newbury – Perseus Way – 100
There was some excellent performers on show at the Berkshire venue on Friday, the likes of Crstallium and Sacred being two impressive winners over seven-furlongs, but it was this concluding handicap over 1m2f that produced the fastest furlong-per-furlong time on the card. A difficult one to assess beforehand following a 78-day break, Owen Burrows’ gelding proved the surprise package of the race and the way he stayed on to dispose of a competitive field strongly suggests he is a three-year-old going places in a rush. Only raised 3lb by the assessor subsequently, his new rating still seems way short of the mark in terms of his ability and progression based on our numbers and he’s likely to prove that theory correct next time over the same trip or even further.
September 17 – Newbury – Stay Alert – 103
A strong gallop from the outset thanks to the exploits of Fancy Man and that played into the strengths of the eventual winner who came from some way off the pace to land the spoils close home. With form figures at the Berkshire venue of 121, she clearly loves a big, wide open galloping track and she now heads to Ascot for a tilt at a bigger prize, for which quotes of around the 14-1 seem more than fair.