August 27 – Ripon – Zayer – 77
Runner-up in both previous starts over 6f, including at Haydock previously when narrowly ahead of Angel Hunter, who had since won a York nursery off a mark of 83, Simon & Ed Crisford’s inmate appreciated the drop to the minimum trip to make all. Showing brazen speed from the outset, he soon had his four rivals at the pin of their collar and the further he went, the more impressive he became. Lowering the track record in the process, the son of Starspangledbanner strongly hinted he is ready to tackle tougher assignments and something such as the Flying Childers at Doncaster next week wouldn’t be a bad option.
August 28 – Kempton – Magico – 77
A race run at a solid gallop throughout and the gamble was well and truly landed on Marco Botti’s inmate, who was given a patient ride from the back of the field. Trying the trip for the first time, the son of Le Havre was very strong in the closing stages and his final three furlong splits complemented a useful overall time figure. Now he has proven he stays well, there are more options to be had with this progressive three-year-old and with an unbeaten record at the Sunbury venue (2-2), similar contests beckon when he returns at a later date.
August 30 – Thirsk – Tinto – 84
A race dominated by veterans, but it’s form well worth noting all the same. Both the winner and the second, Makanah, raced just in behind the speed set by Rousing Encore and they very much got first run on Trilby, who ended up being the best of those held up in the rear. Of the three, Trilby is probably the one to note going forward and under slightly slower conditions, he can add to his tally of three victories so far this season.
August 31- Beverley – Democracy Dilemma – 82
A listed event that is always keenly contested for those just under top class and it went the way of a likeable sprinter who gained his just rewards for a series of big efforts in quality handicaps. As is often the case, Robert Cowell’s inmate built up a nice advantage through the early stages and although the petrol gauge was flickering on empty late on, he just about had enough to repel the strong finishing Albasheer. No doubt he will be hard to place from here on in but he still should be capable of giving a bold account in similar events. Of the runner up, he clearly needs things to fall just right but it would come as no surprise to see him bid to better his finishing position in last season’s Ayr Gold Cup.
August 31 – Chester – Absurde – 80
A even gallop set by Enemy that was lifted in the final half a mile and Willie Mullins’ inmate was the one who found the best turn of foot to beat off the useful Caius Chorister. Although not top class form by any means, it was a performance that went along way to suggest the son of Fastnet Rock is as good as ever and having finished a respectable seventh in last year’s Melbourne Cup, he will go back down under with a lot less arduous a campaign in his legs.
August 31 – Sandown – Tamfana – 81
David Menuisier’s filly was very much the one to beat beforehand based on her eye-catching effort in the 1000 Guineas and she duly landed the prize, winning in the style of a horse who was a class apart. Given a confident ride by Oisin Murphy. she swept by her rivals with the minimum fuss and the data suggests this was a performance not far off her best. Entered in plenty of big races towards the end of the season, connections have the option of choosing between 1m and 1m2f depending on the ground conditions on the day and whichever one they decide on, she will no doubt be a big player on the basis of her current wellbeing.
August 31 – Curragh – Dreamy – 75
Probably not the strongest field of fillies assembled for this Group 3 but nonetheless, it was won in fine style by a horse who we should be hearing big things of throughout the rest of her career, especially next season. Workmanlike rather than spectacular on her debut, Aidan O’Brien’s inmate had to improve to justify plenty of market confidence beforehand and after being driven to the front just over a furlong from home, she stayed on well to duly land the prize. Winning with more in hand than the official result suggests, the daughter of American Pharoah joins the likes of stable mates Fairy Godmother, Bedtime Story and January towards the top of the juvenile fillies’ tree and she should develop into a lovely middle distance prospect as a three-year-old, with the Oaks surely her main long term goal.