May 19 – Carlisle – Venetian Sun – 74
A really good week for unearthing some smart juvenile talent and the first cab off the rank came in the shape of this filly trained by Karl Burke. Well touted pre-race, the daughter of Starman lived up to the star billing and in doing so, she posted a very useful speed figure. As events have already transpired, the form has begun to work out well with Argentine Tango winning since and with connections keen to map out a plan of action surrounding the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, she has to be an automatic choice for the shortlist for that Group 3.
May 22 – Chelmsford – Arabian Story – 81
This looked a strong novice event on paper beforehand with the three big guns at the top of the market all well fancied but in the end, it became a no contest with the winner absolutely destroying the field. Setting out to make it a solid test, Saeed Bin Suroor’s gelding soon had his rivals at full stretch and when he kicked for home off the final bend, he impressed by striding even further clear. The overall time figure we have suggested he ran to a level verging on pattern class and the subsequent rating (97) he was given by the assessor backs up that view. Whether he can repeat this sort of form back on turf is the only question but otherwise, he has to go down as a horse of some potential.
May 22 – Yarmouth – Staya – 73
The next two-year-old to make an impression on the clock was George Scott’s filly on her debut and she could be another to grace Royal Ascot in due course. Said to have been going nicely at home beforehand without setting the world alight, she produced a performance that belied her humdrum expectations and she looks the type who will improve massively from this initial outing. A likeable sort with a laid back approach to life, she clearly has plenty of natural talent to match her temperament and based on this evidence, she looks one of the main contenders for the Queen Mary at this stage.
May 23- Haydock – Fitzella – 75
Following on from a promising debut at Ascot, big things were expected of Hugo Palmer’s filly on her second start and she didn’t let her supporters down with a display of the highest quality. Making all the running, she maintaining a very strong gallop through the six furlong journey and given how well she hit the line, she looked to have even more to offer. Based on the speed figure she posted, she tops the tree as far as the juvenile fillies are concerned and odds of 10-1 for the Albany looks well worth taking.
May 24 – Beverley – Old Is Gold – 73
This race always attracts a decent field and this year’s renewal could easily work out as well as last season’s race won by Shareholder. There were two previous winners in the line up plus a well regarded colt trained Karl Burke but in the end, it went the way of a horse who had showed a degree of promise in defeat on his debut at Ascot the previous month. Needing every yard of the five furlongs, the son of Mehmas overpowered his rivals inside the final furlong and this victory, highlighted by a strong speed figure, should set him up nicely when he returns to the Berkshire venue next month.,
May 24 – Windsor – Regional Gold -72
For the fourth time in a week, another juvenile who threw his Ascot cap in the ring and there was a lot to like about the way this son of Territories booked his ticket to the Royal meeting. Firstly, his draw right out on the wing did him no favours but he showed enough speed to come over and join the main body of runners and once assuming command two furlongs out, he readily kept the field at bay. Considering the factors against him up against a horse with significant experience in the shape of Angel Of Anfield, Ralph Beckett’s colt has to be viewed as a youngster of some potential and no doubt all roads lead to Royal Ascot and a crack at the Coventry Stakes. Of those in behind, it may pay to keep King Of Chaos on side, as he was expected to need the experience by his astute handler.
May 24 – Curragh – Trustyourinstinct – 85
Having run well behind the likes of genuine Group 1 performers Los Angeles and White Birch previously, it came as no surprise to see Joseph O’Brien’s inmate a warm order to go two places better on his return to the Kildare venue. Even so, the way he disposed of his rivals at the Kildare venue was very easy on the eye and he looks to be improving at a decent rate at present. Clearly, the Curragh suits his eye well and providing they can stay clear of the big guns over on home soil, the five-year-old can win plenty more races this season.
May 24 – Curragh – Field Of Gold – 85
A smart field assembled for the first Irish classic of the season and it produced one of the most impressive winners in recent times. Well documented how unlucky he was in the English version three weeks earlier, John & Thady Gosden’s inmate was on a retrieval mission at the Kildare venue and this time he gave his supporters very little anxious moments. The way he travelled before quickening right away from his rivals was the sign of a genuine top class miler and he is going to be very hard to beat in most group 1’s over that trip this season.