July 20 – Beverley – Kentucky Rain – 77
Amo Racing’s decision to throw this filly into the deep end at Royal Ascot backfired but found a more suitable contest to showcase her true worth, proved the answer on her third start. Sent off 1-4, she was entitled to win as she liked but the speed figure suggested this was more than just a mandatory maiden performance and it will be interesting to see how she is campaigned from this point onwards.
July 23 – Newbury – Waasil – 77
Just the four runners for this nursery but the time figure points towards the race being run at a true gallop and the form should be treated accordingly. The winner, a big, powerful sort by Ardad, backed up his previous victory at Beverley with a convincing display and he has the scope to continue to improve while the handicapper takes time to catch up with his current lenient mark.
July 23 – Sandown – Aperoll – 79
Easily the best furlong-per-furlong time on the card, which is always a good sign for a two-year-old race, and the winner had to do things the hard way on the front end. Keen early, Richard Hannon’s filly set a good gallop from the start and she impressed with the way she picked up again once pressed by the fast-finishing, Bayside View. A solid third in the Chesham previously, the daughter of Ghaiyyath is beginning to piece together a useful body of work and if she can learn to settle a little better, she could easily make the step up to group 1 company. As for the runner-up, she deserves to be marked up having to come from so far back and she looks a filly still going the right way.
July 23 – Yarmouth – Evenfall – 76
Yet another juvenile to catch the eye visually and on the clock and this filly could end up being the one who goes the furthest. Well touted beforehand, she impressed with the way she was able to cruise in behind the fast pace set by previous C&D winner, Anchiano, and when asked to put the race to bed late on, she did so with aplomb. Entered in the Group 2 Mill Reef towards the end of the season, those lofty plans might not be that far away from the mark if progressing in the way expected.
July 24 – Ascot – Sorrengail – 75
A strong-looking novice event for two-year-olds and a very taking performance from a filly who took a big step forward from her debut effort at Newmarket. Charlie Appleby’s inmate rather got lost at HQ but did catch the eye with the way she finished off her race and she clearly learnt plenty from that initial experience. She holds no fancy entries just yet, but is from the family of Space Blues and looks a black-type filly in the making.
July 25 – Ascot – Moonrise – 77
On a week where the juveniles dominated the landscape regarding speed figures, Andrew Balding’s filly was another to impress on the data. Putting her valuable course form to good use, courtesy of her run in the Windsor Castle, the daughter of Churchill produced a thoroughly likeable and professional performance, leaving the impression she was doing the bare minimum in front. An entry in the Group 2 Lowther, that contest at York next month looks the next logical step.
July 25 – Ascot – Kalpana – 91
A stellar renewal of the big, mid-season all-age middle distance Group 1 and a race to savour run at a very strong pace. Always well positioned, Andrew Balding’s mare travelled well within herself until let loose turning for home and unlike the year before, she had enough left in the tank to repel the late challenge of old rival, Calandagan. We already knew she was high class, but this performance and time figure took her game to another level, and it would be hard to see what can beat her if attempting a hat-trick in the British Champions Fillies & Mares in October. She’s in the Arc too, though, and would fully deserve a second bite at the cherry in a race where the draw did her no favours last season.
July 25 – York – Stratusnine – 83
A very competitive sprint handicap but in produced a very game winner and Hugo Palmer’s gelding looks ready for a step into pattern company. On the sharp end throughout, the son of Far Above stayed on very strongly to fend off a whole host of challengers and there might be one more big handicap left in him before stepping up in grade.
July 25 – York – Flight Control – 80
Not the best overall figure of the week by any means but this three-year-old handicap still looks strong form. The well backed Return Of The Gods looked to be going as well as anything two furlongs out but the fact he couldn’t go with the front pair from that juncture suggests they are two to keep on side going forward and there was very little to separate them at the line. Although the winner still remains progressive, the runner-up, Mr Noble, comes across as having a bit more upside and he can back up that view over the same trip next time.