August 10 – Haydock – Spring Is Sprung – 87
With Night On Earth in the field, this five furlong handicap was always liking to be a strongly run race and so it proved, with the front two home posting the sort of number usually associated with pattern races. As predicted, Night On Earth went off like the clappers and to his great credit he kept on strongly all the way to the line, but ultimately he found one too good in the shape of Paul Midgley’s gelding, who completed a hat trick following wins at Southwell and Newmarket. The pair finished well clear of the rest and even though they might have had some sort of advantage from racing towards the stands’ side fence, they both clearly remain in the rudest of health.
August 12 – Hamilton – Danger Bay – 82
Having already highlighted Ed Bethell’s gelding as one to follow in a previous column, it was good to see him back up our view he could be a pattern performer in the making and there looks like there could be even more to come. The way he travels in his races sets him apart and he also has a useful turn of foot that will come in handy when he goes up in class. All in all, he is a thoroughly progressive three-year-old with plenty of scope to keep improving with time and he remains one to very much keep on side.
August 13 – Salisbury – Miss Justice – 84
A listed fillies contest run at a strong gallop thanks to the exploits of Ambiente Friendly and it produced a rousing finish between two who were held up off the pace. On the face of it, this looked a bold move by connections running a horse in pattern company with a rating of just 85 but as we have seen in the past in these listed fillies races, horses can improve from left field and so it proved. Apart from the smart time figure, the pleasing aspect about the winner was how much she found for pressure once joined by Revoir and with the pair well clear, both fillies deserve to be kept on side during the autumn months.
August 16 – Curragh – Zahrann – 84
Despite Los Angeles probably not running to form, this still rates a strong race and the winner confirmed the promise of several of his previous starts earlier in the season. The way he ran at Royal Ascot hinted he could be in for a lucrative second half of the campaign and this effort did nothing to dispel that theory. Johnny Murtagh’s colt has a noticeable round action that should see him in an even better light with ease in the ground and when the rains do finally come, he is going to be a potent force is races of more significance than this Group 3. Nice type.
August 16 – Newbury – More Thunder – 88
William Haggas’ inmate has always left the impression he was marking time in handicaps and this effort proved that view to be true in no uncertain terms. Rage Of Bamby and Witness Stand ensured the gallop was honest from the outset and held up towards the rear, the son of Night Of Thunder was happy to bide his time until when asked for his effort. Once moving through the gears, the four-year-old found a ready turn of foot which catapulted him through the field and into the lead and the further he went, the better he looked. Clearly more at home over this seven furlong trip, connections now have plenty more options going forward and the Group 1 Prix Foret looks his next obvious target.
August 16 – Newbury – Fort George – 84
Only five went to post for this three-year-old handicap but all quintet arrived at the Berkshire track off the back of a run, so the form should work out well. The winner, a slightly unlucky third when held up at Goodwood previously, was ridden more aggressively with a view to making full use of his stamina and he answered every call, ultimately pulling well clear late on. Clearly a very strong stayer at 1m2f, The Cambridgeshire was muted as a possible target and he looks just the type for the hustle and bustle nature of that event next month.