DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY AUGUST 20
1.50 YORK
As we saw on day one of the Ebor meeting, the change in conditions had a dramatic effect of some of the performances and with almost the entire Lowther field yet to encounter ground on the soft side, a degree of guesswork is involved.
That said, STAR OF STATE is from a sire who didn’t mind a bit of give underfoot and a chance is taken on Joseph O’Brien’s filly justifying connections’ decision to supplement her for this race to the tune of 20k.
Looking back at her opening gambit at Fairyhouse, she left the impression it was only lack of experience that caught her out against the race-fit Livenka and as we have seen with what the winner has gone on to achieve subsequently, she clearly was up against no back number in the shape of Ger Lyons’ inmate.
Found a gilt-edged opportunity to build on that initial display at Leopardstown last time out, she confirmed the significant promise she had shown on her debut by making every yard of the running and with the speed figure backing up the visual aspect of the performance, she looks ready to face something more meaningful in this Group 2 contest.
Nicely drawn in stall 6 on the evidence of what occurred her yesterday and many previous meetings, racing on the best part of the track and her confirmed stamina beyond today’s 6f trip makes her the obvious candidate to carry this prize back over the water.
STAR OF STATE – 2-points win@11-4
4.10 YORK
A race with quite a few imponderables, not least the rain in the last 24 hours an unknown for many, but VAUNTINGLY comes across as one who should relish this test and she makes the most appeal at the morning odds.
Firstly, the daughter of Night Of Thunder hails from a stable that produced five winners at Royal Ascot and to top it off, four more at Glorious Goodwood. It really is a case of if can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
Moreover, Joseph O’Brien has done rather well with his fillies at a high level, as the likes of Johanna Walsh, Thundering On and Sindria testify, and this three-year-old, although not quite in the same conversation just yet, does seem to be improving at a fair rate.
Since defeated by an 84-rated horse at Down Royal two starts ago, she has gone on to claim the scalp of the useful White Sand Beach at Killarney and upped in trip again, almost got the better of stable mate, Nil Bua Gan Dua at Gowran last time out.
Considering her track position turning for home wasn’t favourable to how the races often play out at the Kenny venue, she did really well to get within a short head of her better-fancied rival, who made all, and she is fancied to take to the Knavesmire at the first time of asking.
VAUNTINGLY – ½ point each-way@15-2 (four places)
6.30 LEOPARDSTOWN
CANNES faced an impossible task up against two highly promising three-year-olds at Goodwood last time out but he was far from disgraced and now returning to a track and surface that will see him in a more favourable light, Joseph O’Brien’s colt can resume winning ways.
Time may tell there was no shame chasing home Infraad and Hatteen at the Sussex venue and it was just a case of him not having the basic speed of those two classy types under the prevailing quick conditions.
Better judged on his previous efforts on a softer terrain, his victory here over several smart three-year-olds has been boosted by the third and fourth since and he also took the notable scalp of one of today’s main challengers, Wyman, on his only other previous visit to the Dublin venue.
Runner-up to James J Braddock on heavy ground as a juvenile, he came across as a horse who would appreciate solid tests of stamina at three and working on that theory, tonight’s assignment should prove right up his street over a track he knows better than most.
CANNES – 1-point each-way@9-2