Horseracing Selections - Newbury, 21 July 2006
Newbury, 21 July 2006
2:00 Hillwood Stud E.b.f. Maiden Fillies' Stakes
Queen's Fortune can make a winning debut at the expense of Party, Vital Statistics and Apache Dream to name but three. Mick Channon sent out Silca's Sister to land this race 12 months ago, and by all accounts Queen's Fortune has been working well enough to merit support. A daughter of Iron Mask, she was very cheaply bought and at present has no big-race entries, but in a race of this nature, she could very easily make her presence felt. Party is the preferred of Richard Hannon's trio after two fair runs, especially as she was hampered at Newmarket last time after setting out to try and make all. Vital Statistics finished just ahead of her at headquarters and had earlier finished behind that one's stablemate Gilded in the Queen Mary, so has to be considered, while Apache Dream, although clearly the second-string to Naayla on her debut here, is another with improvement to come. All in all, this is a very tricky start to proceedings, with Queen's Fortune getting just a tentative vote.
2:30 Highclere Thoroughbred Breeders Maiden Stakes (straight)
Folio looks the part and can beat a field mainly comprised of newcomers, with Regal Flush, Cry Presto and Moheebb just a few names to conjure with. Folio has finished runner-up on each of his two outings to date, at Leicester and York, and with the experience to call on, is taken to give Barry Hills another winner, as the stable collected 12 months ago with Red Ash. Obviously the market should be noted, with so much untapped talent on view, and it must be pointed out that Richard Hannon has won three of the last six runnings. He saddles three here, with Cry Presto partnered by Ryan Moore. He is well related to a smart miler and cost 43,000gns. The likes of Moheebb and Regal Flush look ones to follow next year on breeding, while Monzante has by all accounts been working well at home. This is just as hard, if not harder than the opener to predict, but we shall side with the one with proven form already, and that is Folio.
3:05 Lillian Summers Memorial Conditions Stakes (straight)
Caradak will be a short price to make a winning return, with Rosinka and Andronikos seen as the main dangers. Caradak's exploits for John Oxx last term have earned him a move to Godolphin, and on the strength of a hat-trick of successes followed by a narrow defeat in Group 1 company at Longchamp on his final start, a winning return is very much on the cards, with little in this line-up to match his form. The return to faster ground will be in his favour, and with the boys in blue finally starting to send out the winners, he is a confident choice. Rosinka absolutely bolted up in a Goodwood maiden on soft ground last year, but has been slow to come to hand and is best watched, although she is certain to make up for lost time. Andronikos had useful form a couple of years ago, but has failed to impress of late and will need more rain to fall to be in with a chance. However, they will all have to go to stop Caradak from obliging en-route to a possible crack at the Sussex Stakes.
3:35 Turfsurf Equine Surfacing Fillies' Handicap
Bracklinn gets the call ahead of Golden Applause, Generosia and Kinvara Lass. Bracklinn won two of her five outings last year, and with trip and ground to suit here, can be fancied to keep up the good work. James Fanshawe's filly will be all the better for her return from a nine-month break at Windsor recently in which she was a highly-creditable third to Della Salute, and with Jamie Spencer no doubt keen to rattle up a few more winners before his impending enforced break, she will lack for nothing in the saddle. Golden Applause defied topweight in fine style at Folkestone and moves up a grade, so will need to improve, while Generosia has a 5lb penalty for her gutsy effort over 12 furlongs at Haydock where she just managed to hang on. The drop back in trip will help her cause and she can go well off bottom weight. Kinvara Lass makes her handicap debut on the back of a couple of promising efforts and should be suited by the long finishing straight here, so is another to note, but for the winner we return to Bracklinn.
4:10 Sporting Index Handicap
Star Of Canterbury can complete the hat-trick at the expense of Rajaall, Lucky Leo and Darghan. Alan Jarvis appears to have found the key to Star Of Canterbury, the three-year-old having come good on each of his last two outings. The improvement gleaned can be attributed to a number of things, including a step up in trip, change of tactics, and at Southwell the time before last, a first-time visor. All those things combined have made a different animal out of this half-brother to Prince Of Denmark, and as he is still well handicapped, there is surely more success around the corner. Rajaall is still a maiden but shaped better for a drop back in trip last time and could make the frame, while Lucky Leo lost nothing in defeat to Gringo at Haydock. The latter has since been beaten at York but was given far too much to do, so the Haydock form is probably solid enough. Darghan is exposed and was a beaten favourite last time, and all in all it is Star Of Canterbury that makes most appeal.
4:45 Sporting Index Apprentice Handicap (str)
Young Bertie can stop Le Chiffre in his tracks, with Taranaki, Pure Imagination and Dr Synn likely to make their presence felt. Young Bertie has been knocking at the door this term, having run well on all three starts to date, including when third at Lingfield last time. Back on Turf and off a light weight, he should make a bold bid. Le Chiffre as been in good form of late, gaining back-to-back successes at Wolverhampton and Haydock, just doing enough on both occasions. a 6lb penalty may be enough to put the anchors on, but he will not go down without a fight. Taranaki keeps finding one too good but will go on the fast ground, while Pure Imagination has been on the upgrade but has it to do off topweight. Dr Synn has performed with credit despite the fast conditions, and will be suited by any easing of the ground. In a fairly competitive renewal, Young Bertie can gain due reward for some consistent efforts.
