12 Jun 2019
The first two Classics of the Flat racing season take place on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile this weekend. The QIPCO 2000 Guineas is the highlight on a cracking Saturday card. We take a look at the Colts’ Mile Classic and the best of the rest from the seven-race card.
NEWMARKET
1.50pm SPRING LODGE HANDICAP STAKES
Analysis
Ten line up for this 1m1f handicap, where the Hayley Turner-ridden POWER OF DARKNESS heads the market. The Marcus Tregoning-trained 4yo won a novice over 7f at Salisbury last June and followed up at the same track in a decent Class 2 1m handicap later that month.
He made his return after wind surgery and a gelding operation to go down a head to Beringer in a 1m handicap last month on the Rowley Mile, finishing strongly after not having the clearest of runs. This extra furlong should help.
AL MUFFRIH makes his return after not being seen since last June when fourth of 14 in a novice over 1m2f at Sandown. Gelded since, he is pitched in on a fair mark and the William Haggas stable has been among the winners in the last couple of weeks.
ELECTOR, owned by HM The Queen, won on his debut at Ascot in September 2017, but invariably found a couple too good last year and gave the impression on his last run, on the All Weather at Kempton in October, that the mile was a bit sharp. Back up in trip, he should give a good account.
JAZEEL makes his stable debut for Jedd O’Keefe, having scored in two of his last five runs for Mick Channon, signing off last season with a C&D win off a 6lb lower mark. He would need a career-best effort to win this.
VINTAGER, representing the Charlie Appleby stable successful with Oasis Charm in this race last year, was well supported on his return to Britain over C&D last month, but he faded out of contention from 1f out and has a bit to prove on the strength of last season’s form.
IBRAZ won a Class 3 handicap at Sandown in June last year off a mark of 86, but has yet to replicate that in a couple of runs off his current 93 mark. He may strip fitter for his last outing, his first for 273 days.
AQUARIUM has been kept busy this winter, running in Dubai without success. There was nothing wrong with his return to turf last time at Epsom when chasing home Mountain Angel in the City and Suburban Handicap, but Mark Johnston’s representative will need a career-best off a mark of 101 (he has won off 100 in the past).
EXEC CHEF, runner-up in the Spring Mile on his seasonal bow, followed that with a tame effort in the Spring Cup at Newbury. This extra 1f should help, as should the services of Oisin Murphy.
FIRST SITTING may well need the run after 220 days off and while Andrew Balding has had a great start to the season, the lightly-raced MAX ZORIN looks in need of a little help from the handicapper.
2.20 PALACE HOUSE STAKES (Group 3)
Key Trends
8 of the last 12 winners were aged between 3yo and 5yo
7 of the last 12 winners won their previous start
9 of the last 12 winners were rated 107 or higher
Analysis
Won in the past by some top sprinters including Equiano, Sole Power (twice) and Goldream, this renewal of the 5f dash looks up to standard.
Eleven are set to face the judge, headed by SERGEI PROKOFIEV, who showed a liking for this track when landing the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes last October. He can take a strong hold and is all the better for having a fast pace to aim at. Aidan O’Brien’s Scat Daddy colt just about gets this trip, but had enough in reserve to win over an extended 5f at Navan on his sole outing this season.
MABS CROSS bids to become the first back-to-back winner of this race since Sole Power scored in 2013 and 2014. The Michael Dodds-trained mare was a model of consistency last season, and signed off with a head victory in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp. She goes well fresh and should be on the short-list.
EL ASTRONAUTE won a valuable handicap at York last August and a Listed contest at Maisons-Laffitte in October. He opened this season with a smart display when beaten a head by Tanasoq in a Class 2 conditions race at Musselburgh off a mark of 106. John Quinn’s runner goes off that same mark in this and would appear to have a leading chance.
TARBOOSH was also not far away in that Musselburgh contest and was best in at the weights that day. He probably needed the run, though, and should be all the better for it. He looks very capable of winning Pattern- level races this season.
MAJOR JUMBO won over C&D on his seasonal debut last April and signed off with victory in a valuable York handicap off a mark of 103. Though beaten two lengths in the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster on this season’s first run, he drops back in trip and class again, so would appear to hold a fair chance.
EQUILATERAL, third in the Cammidge on his seasonal bow, did not exactly frank the form when finishing fourth of eight over 6f in the Group 3 Abernant here last month. However, this drop back in trip looks sure to suit, providing the rain stays away.
JUDICIAL won a Group 3 over 5f at Sandown last July, but he was out of his depth in the July Cup and scuppered by soft ground when last seen at Newbury in September. Julie Camacho’s 7yo has to overcome a 224-day break, but should be a force and may interest each-way backers.
QUEEN OF DESIRE hails from the Roger Varian stable that has sent out 11 winners from 37 runners in the past two weeks. The 4yo Dubawi filly scored in a Listed 5f event at Bath on her seasonal bow and is fully entitled to take her chance as she continues to progress.
SIR THOMAS GRESHAM takes a drop in trip after a fair fifth in the Abernant, and while ENCORE D’OR has eight wins from 20 runs on the AW, his three turf wins have all come in small field events.
ORNATE, who took a 0-95 handicap here last month, is a Pattern performer when he is on song, but this may be flying a little high.
2.55pm – JOCKEY CLUB STAKES (Group 2)
Key Trends
10 of the last 12 winners were aged 4yo
5 of the last 12 winners justified favouritism
8 of the last 12 winners came from the first two in the betting
6 of the last 12 winners had previous G1/G2-winning form
6 of the last 12 winners had a previous run that season
Analysis
This could turn into a tactical affair, with just seven runners and no guaranteed pace.
CORONET was runner-up three times at Group 1 level last season, including when beaten a length by Magical when running wide throughout in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on October. She handles all ground and victory here would set her up for a crack at the Tattersalls Gold Cup or the Investec Coronation Cup.
DEFOE has won seven of her 15 turf starts, including four of 11 at Stakes level. She won this race last year and whilst a little disappointing on her seasonal debut in the John Porter at Newbury on her seasonal bow, the Roger Varian yard was not firing at the time. It certainly is at the moment.
YOUNG RASCAL was fifth in the John Porter on his seasonal bow, having landed a pair of Group 3s at Newbury last Autumn. Last season’s Chester Vase winner should give a much better account of himself now that the William Haggas yard’s runners appear to have found their form. He would be very interesting if there is any significant rain.
RED VERDON was runner-up in this last season and went on to finish second in three more Group races before travelling to Australia and Hong Kong. Gelded after his return, he made his seasonal debut a winning one, taking a conditions race at Doncaster. This mile and a half looks his trip.
COMMUNIQUE has plenty to find on his seventh of nine in the John Porter, but he is a hard-knocking handicapper and it would be no surprise to see him bag a Group race this season.
MILDENBURGER showed plenty of talent in two runs last season, winning a Listed 1m1f race here last April on his seasonal debut, before chasing home Roaring Lion in the Dante at York, after which he suffered a fractured knee. He made his return at Epsom in the City & Suburban Handicap, but was unsuited by the track and got rolling late. This 1m4f could be just what he needs and William Buick rides, which is a tip in itself.
MAID UP won four times last season, including at Group 3 level. While out of her depth in the St Leger when last seen, she may be seen to better effect at this level, but she needs to be at her best to figure.
3.35pm – QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS STAKES (Group 1)
Key Trends
5 of the last 12 winners justified favouritism
6 of the last 12 winners came from the first three in the betting
8 of the last 12 winners scored on their previous run
9 of the last 12 winners had a rating of 110 or higher
10 of the last 12 winners had at least one win at G1-G3 level
Analysis
Aidan O’Brien has won this race nine times since 1998 (from 47 runners), including three of the last four renewals, and has also had 12 runners in the frame.
He would appear to hold the key again, with his duo heading the Genting Casino Horse Racing market in an open-looking renewal. With 19 declared, this is the biggest field since 2010.
TEN SOVEREIGNS, successful in the 6f Group 1 Middle Park Stakes on this course in September, is unbeaten in three starts, progressing from landing a 25-runner Curragh maiden by seven lengths on debut, to taking the Group 3 Round Tower by almost four lengths. His sire, No Nay Never, was all speed, but his dam was Listed placed over 1m3f. There have to be question marks over the trip, but Ryan Moore has chosen this one over the colt’s stablemate.
MAGNA GRECIA landed last season’s Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster having chased home French superstar Persian King in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes on the Rowley Mile, which came just 13 days after a winning debut at Naas. He looks an exciting prospect and has shown he stays a mile.
MADHMOON is trained by 86-year-old Kevin Prendergast, who last landed this race in 1977 with Nebbiolo. Madhmoon landed the Group 2 Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown last September, and probably needed the run on ground that was plenty soft enough for him when chasing home the Aidan O’Brien-trained Never No More at Leopardstown over 7f on his seasonal bow. He has plenty of talent and with no apparent standout colts, deserves his high rank in the market.
SKARDU comes here unbeaten after two starts. He stayed on nicely to take the Craven over C&D last month but that looked an unsatisfactory affair and the bare form does not look up to Classic standard.
ADVERTISE was runner-up in the Coventry Stakes to Calyx on his second start at Royal Ascot, before landing a 6f Group 2 on the July Course and progressing to take the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. Upped to 7f for the Dewhurst, he was well held by the exceptional Too Darn Hot, who misses this race with a setback. Questions remain about his ability to stay this mile but he has strengthened up over the winter and trainer Martyn Meade correctly rolls the dice.
ROYAL MARINE, winner of the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last October, was given a dreadful ride by Christophe Soumillon in the Craven. The colt pulled too hard early on and the Belgian somehow contrived to get him boxed in against seven rivals on the wide-open expanse of the Rowley Mile last time. He finished off his race well, but Saeed bin Suroor’s representative will have to cope with 18 rivals this time and would have every chance if running up to his best.
AL HILALEE represents Charlie Appleby, who has only had two previous runners in the Guineas. Though the Godolphin blue silks were carried to success in the race by Dawn Approach in 2013, the last Godolphin winner trained in-house was Saeed bin Suroor’s Island Sands 20 years ago. Unbeaten in two starts last summer, the Dubawi colt was supplemented for this race after being flown in from Dubai last Sunday. Appleby thinks he is a Derby horse and the Guineas is invariably the best trial for Epsom. He does not look out of place in an open renewal.
KICK ON looked a progressive type when scoring over C&D in September on his second start, and he followed that with a fair sixth to Magna Grecia in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. Winner of the 1m1f Fielden Stakes here on his seasonal debut, he drops back to 1m and John Gosden’s Charm Spirit colt is sure to be doing is best work near the finish.
SET PIECE looked an improver when staying on to be two-lengths third to Skardu in the Craven. The fitting of a tongue tie might see further improvement for the Hugo Palmer yard that won this race three years ago with Galileo Gold.
GREAT SCOT was fifth in the Futurity Trophy and has a bit to find with Magna Grecia on that, but if his Group 3 Greenham runner-up effort showed us anything, it was that he needs to learn to settle if he is to see out this mile.
SHINE SO BRIGHT bids to emulate Mystiko, who was the last winner of the European Free Handicap to go on and land the 2000 Guineas. That was 28 years ago. The Andrew Balding stable has been in great form, particularly with its 3yos, but this one did not look as if he was crying out for a mile when taking the 7f event here last month.
URBAN ICON, who hails from the Richard Hannon stable that scored with Night Of Thunder in 2014, was a fair third in the Greenham on his first run since June and he is a big horse who will likely come on a bundle for that run. He could be value at a big price.
EMARAATY ANA won the Gimcrack at York, making most of the running over that 6f trip last August and then was well held by Ten Sovereigns in the Middle Park when last seen. He is not one of the more obvious contenders given that run, and has yet to race beyond 6f.
MOMKIN was beaten a neck in the Craven, not having had the cleanest of runs. He appeared to be more of a French Guineas horse on the strength of that, but Roger Charlton stays at home.
SPORTING CHANCE has had 11 starts and is the most exposed of the field. His Listed win in Dubai does not put him down as one of the main protagonists and massive improvement is unlikely to be forthcoming.
DARK VISION looked a very promising colt when scoring in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood in July, but he was last of six to Too Darn Hot in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and was well held on his seasonal (AW) debut at Chelmsford last month. It is too soon to write him off, though.
NAME THE WIND is unbeaten in two AW starts and he stayed on nicely to land the second of them at Kempton last month. He makes a turf debut for James Tate and while he may not be good enough, he looks one to keep on the right side of in the coming months.
AZANO was favourite for the European Free Handicap on the strength of his runner-up effort in the Horris Hill last season, but could not land a blow to Shine So Bright and has a bit to prove on the bare form.
KING OF CHANGE won a novice race at Nottingham earlier last month, but this is a massive step up in class.
