September 15 – Redcar – Return Of The Gods – 87
If there was such a thing as ‘star of the week’, that accolade would very much go in the direction of Ed Bethell’s gelding based on the performance he produced in landing a competitive handicap sprint at the Yorkshire venue. The son of Tasleet was reverting back to six furlongs having raced over a furlong further on his previous three starts but he always looked comfortable in the pace that was being generated from the outset and he cruised into contention heading down to the two furlong pole. From that juncture, he steadily eased his way into the lead and close home he began to really open up, ultimately pulling right away to win by a widening length and a half. A half-brother to Gimcrack Stakes winner Cool Hoof Luke, he clearly is not short of pace and providing conditions remain on the quick side for him in the coming weeks, he can sign off for the season with another win under his belt. Looking further ahead, he could make up into a very smart sprinter and he is definitely one to keep on side.
September 16 – Beverley – Myesme – 80
Hidden Gift, having finished a creditable fifth of 25 in the Queen Mary, set a pretty high bar for this maiden over the minimum trip but she ultimately proved no match for a filly who simply blew her away with devastating all-round speed. Drawn 9 of 9 at the Yorkshire venue, Ed Bethell’s filly had no easy task trying to hold her position on the outside of the field but not only did she overcome that potential impost with aplomb, she found the necessary turn of foot to see off her main market rival inside the final furlong. Based on the speed figure we awarded this daughter of Mayson, she is one of the sharpest juveniles we have seen all season and it will take a very good one to lower her colours in the Redcar two-year-old trophy in a few weeks’ time. Could be top class.
September 16 – Sandown – Cerro Blanco – 84
The record books will say this was a mandatory victory for a horse who had a bit in hand of his field pre-race, but it would be dangerous to take that view based on the fact Charlie Appleby’s colt had to overcome one or two hurdles to gain the day. Unlike his two main rivals, Nahraan and Crown Of Oaks, the son of Wootton Bassett did not get into a good position early, being forced out wide heading into the first corner and, as a result, he got shuffled back to mid-division as the field straightened up for the judge. As we know, the Esher venue is quite a tricky track to make ground from the rear, so the fact he managed to run down two useful sorts who obtained vital track position on him suggests his winning effort was better than the bare facts indicate. Whether he runs again this season only time will tell but either way, he remains a highly progressive colt who should enjoy further riches as a four-year-old.
September 16 – Yarmouth – Round The Table – 86
A keenly-contested handicap that produced one of the better speed figures of the week and the form should work out accordingly. The winner had to overcome a very poor effort when last seen but with the tongue-tie dispensed with, he returned to the sort of form that allowed him to score back-to-back wins earlier in the campaign. Staying on well in the closing stages, Tom Clover’s colt left the impression he had plenty more in the tank if required and he might not be finished for the season just yet based on the evidence of this performance. Back in the field, Tycoon caught the eye with the way he finished off his race and this was a much better effort than some of his previous attempts over 1m4f. Still in the Cambridgeshire this coming weekend, it would come as no surprise to see the end-to-end gallop and the nature of that cavalry charge suiting Kevin Philippart De Foy’s gelding down to the ground.
September 17 – Ayr – Wild Thoughts – 83
From one progressive three-year-old to another and Richard Spencer’s gelding deserves a big shout for speed figure he produced in this competitive handicap on day one of the western meeting. The son of Lucky Vega had run well on his previous outing in a similar environment at York but this time he proved to be much the best, staying on strongly in the latter stages to score with any amount in hand. Now proven under testing conditions, the three-year-old has more options going forward and his progress is worth monitoring.
September 18 – Ayr – Mussab – 76
The strong form choice Hickory Lad proved to be a big disappointment but that should not detract from the performance of the winner, who returned to the sort of form that allowed him to finish third in the Norfolk Stakes earlier in the campaign. Racing on soft ground for the first time, the son of Ten Sovereigns impressed with the way he travelled in the early stages and when asked to go and put the race to bed late on, he found the necessary requirements to see off the useful Dubai Champion. A very pacey juvenile, it would be a surprise to see him asked to race beyond the minimum trip this season and the Cornwallis could be a good fit for him next time out. As for the runner-up, he behaved better in the stalls that he had done at York previously and this was very much a step back in the right direction.
September 18 – Wolves – Lily Lux – 82
As is often the case, there is the odd low-grade handicap that throws up a time way beyond its means and this 0-70 fillies’ contest proved to be another for the archives. George Baker’s inmate had been plying her trade over 1m4f on her previous outings but was dropped back to the extended 1m1f journey in a bid to get back on the winning trail. Setting off to make it a good test at the trip, the daughter of Free Port Lux soon had her rivals at full stretch and she had enough left in the tank when pressurised by her nearest pursuer late on. Considering she had been off since May, this was a fair effort by the five-year-old mare and she will be of some interest if returning to the Dunstall venue in future.
September 19 – Ayr – Station X – 86
The Ayr Silver Cup ended up producing a faster speed figure than the Gold Cup an hour later and, as a result, the form should be worth keeping on side. As was the case over the three-day meeting, low numbers held sway and housed in stall five, Bryan Smart’s gelding eventually got the better of long-time leader, Goldmoyne, after a protracted dual from three out. However, the one to take out of the race was Toyotomi, who came from miles off the pace to finish a creditable third. Hampered at the start, David O’ Meara’s inmate was a good ten lengths off the speed at halfway and it is testimony to his current wellbeing that he managed to erode the losing margin to around a length at the line. Clearly well suited by soft ground, a similar big-field handicap looks sure to go his way before the season ends.
September 19 – Chester – Crazy Cubana – 77
It was a toss up between the first two juvenile races on the Roodeye that made the cut but given the circuitous journey Ed Walker’s inmate took in claiming victory in this nursery, her performance deserves the most praise. Housed in stall nine, the daughter of Kodiac had to endure a rough trip out wide for majority of the seven-furlong journey but despite giving away valuable ground, she still had the necessary requirements to lower the colours of several well-fancied rivals. On the evidence of this display, dropping back down in trip from a mile was an inspired decision by her connections and providing we get a wet end to the season, another decent prize can go her way.
Newbury – Newbury – Miss Yerchance – 83
Improving fillies at this time of the year can be very dangerous beasts and Karl Burke’s inmate proved to be another case in point. Having made all to score at York last time out, similar tactics were once again the order of the day from the outset and despite being joined over a furlong from home, she found plenty for pressure to maintain her advantage. Clearly very pacey, she looks set for another campaign in Dubai, where she was successful last season. Of the rest, Redorange deserves a special mention for making the best of a bad job having totally fluffed the start. Unsurprisingly, he posted the fastest split times of the field from the four pole to the one and it was only in the final 100 yards when his effort to get back into the race took its toll. He will, of course, need to break cleaner to be more effective next time, but it is clear, all the ability in the world remains with Clive Cox’s inmate and he deserves another chance.