Lightly campaigned as a juvenile, he had enough pace to muster a runner-up
“He was making a nice run down the outside in the Gordon Stakes and there was
David Wachman faces a nervous wait until his scheduled track inspection this
|
“I’m going to walk the course around 5.30 a.m. on Saturday and we’ll see
where we are then,” his trainer explained Friday. “The horse is due to fly over
at 7 a.m., so we’ll be able to decide whether to put him on the plane or get him
off.”
One who will appreciate any more rain is Epsom Oaks winner Talent, who bids
to get back on track following her subsequent flop in the Irish Oaks on quick
ground at The Curragh July 20. The form of her impressive success in the May 31
classic received a late boost on Thursday when the third-placed The Lark
captured the “Fillies’ St Leger,” the Park Hill Stakes, and jockey Jim Crowley
is hoping she can show her true worth as she bids to become the 42nd filly to
win the classic and the first since User Friendly in 1992.
“Ireland was a bit of a farce, with the fast ground and the way the race was
run,” he commented. “The trip is fine, I think, and the softer the ground, the
better. We hacked in Ireland and it just didn’t suit, so even if they go a
normal pace we’ll be fine.”
Several fillies have attempted to beat the colts here in recent times, with
the 15 to have undertaken the task since 1992 including the high-class Ramruma,
who was second in 1999, the Ralph Beckett-trained Look Here, third in 2008, and
Snow Fairy, fourth three years ago. However, some others such as Quiff and
Unsung Heroine have gone close, and overall the distaff brigade have a fine
record.
“Look Here ran a very good race for us in the St Leger when she was third —
I wasn’t sure she got home and it was probably a very good Leger, won by
Conduit,” Beckett commented. “Talent is in good shape, but has not had the ideal
preparation, as I was keen to run her in the Yorkshire Oaks, but the ground was
too quick.
“I think she would be better with a run under her belt. She galloped at
Kempton over a mile last week and we were pleased with the way it went. She
doesn’t knock herself out in her work. We have always felt she is a strong
stayer and that the St Leger is the right race for her under the right
conditions. She needs a bit of juice in the ground, not like the ground when she
ran in the Irish Oaks. I am not convinced that the ground was the only reason
for her poor performance in Ireland, but I wouldn’t want to run her on fast
ground again until I knew for sure.”
Brian Meehan is never short on confidence when pitching Mantonites into top
company, and saddles an intriguing outsider in Great Hall. While he has to
improve markedly on his latest handicap win over 14 furlongs at Haydock July 4,
the unexposed stayer will enjoy the cut in the ground and is partnered by Kieren
Fallon, who still seeks a first winner of this classic.
“We have quite a few stayers in the yard this season,” his trainer said. “He
hung a bit left and hung a bit right and was green at Haydock last time, but he
actually won with plenty in hand. It probably looked a bit more pressured than
it was.”
Like Manton, Kingsclere is another establishment with an illustrious history,
and Andrew Balding is hoping that Havana Beat can step up on his performances so
far in 2012, which include a career-best third in the Bahrain Trophy over 13
furlongs at Newmarket July 11.
“He was unlucky in the Bahrain Trophy, as he got caught in a pocket and only
finished up getting beaten two necks,” he said. “If he had won the Bahrain
Trophy and was going straight for the Leger he certainly wouldn’t be a 33-1
shot. The St Leger is a race I would love to win. There have been plenty of St
Leger winners trained at Kingsclere, but none for a long time.”
It is 10 years since Lucky Story defied a penalty in Doncaster’s Group 2
Champagne Stakes, and it will take a smart performance from Anjaal to follow
suit in Saturday’s renewal. Stepping up off a four-length, five-furlong maiden
win at Beverley to annex the July Stakes at Newmarket over an extra panel, The
colt ails from the Richard Hannon stable, successful in the last two renewals
with Trumpet Major and Toronado.
“Anjaal had a Gimcrack and a Molecomb winner behind at Newmarket, so you
can’t knock the form, and he has thrived for his little holiday,” his trainer
said. “He breezed nicely on Thursday and has really filled out in all the right
places, and we could not be more happy with him.”
Godolphin have also won two recent renewals in 2009 and 2010, having also won
three editions from 2000-2002, and have supplemented Outstrip, who ran into a
classy Hannon trainee in Toormore when runner-up in the Vintage Stakes over
seven furlongs at Goodwood July 31.
“Outstrip ran a very nice race at Goodwood, when he was caught on the line,
and he has done well physically since,” trainer Charlie Appleby commented. “The
concern would be the ground, but I feel that he should be okay with some give
underneath, and it was rain-softened ground at Goodwood. I am very happy with
him and I think he is the horse to beat.”
First and second respectively in the Acomb Stakes over seven furlongs at
York, Treaty of Paris and The Grey Gatsby re-oppose, and it may be that the
latter is open to more progress at this stage.
Having proved a revelation when reverting to seven furlongs in the Hungerford
Stakes at Newbury Aug. 17, Gregorian stays at that trip for Saturday’s Group 2
Park Stakes. Never far from the best over a mile, the John Gosden trainee had
been placed three times at the top level over that trip before brushing aside
the previously-unbeaten Soft Falling Rain in a renewal of the Hungerford staged
on rain-softened ground. With conditions in his favor again here, the gray
carries stable confidence and that of his rider William Buick.
“This trip of seven furlongs fits right into his comfort zone and I don’t
think there was any fluke about his defeat of Soft Rain Falling when Rab Havlin
rode him at Newbury last month,” he commented. “It was on the soft side when he
won the Diomed Stakes at Epsom on Oaks Day, and it was on the easy side when he
was a length third in last year’s St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, so
he’s got a lot going for him.”
When Gregorian was third in the Queen Anne Stakes at this year’s Royal
meeting, Aljamaaheer was a half-length ahead in second. Subsequently successful
in the Summer Mile at Ascot, he was disappointing when only eighth in the Prix
Jacques le Marois at Deauville when the Roger Varian stable was under a cloud.
“Aljamaaheer looks great and has been in terrific form at home,” his trainer
commented. “I would love to run him at Doncaster. I think the flat, sharp seven
furlongs would be right up his street. On paper, he looks to have a very good
chance. My only concern would be if the ground deteriorates anymore.”
In a strong renewal of this race which can sometimes offer below-par fare,
Eddie Lynam sends across the three-year-old filly Viztoria, and she will relish
the underfoot conditions. Successful in The Curragh’s Athasi Stakes over this
trip, she was a creditable sixth when the ground rode too fast for her in the
Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot when last seen June 21.
“She’s in good form and it looks as though the ground will be on the slow
side of good,” Lynam told PA Sport. “She hasn’t run since Ascot and she’s ready
to start back, and I’m very happy with her going into the race. She is the only
filly in the race and the only three-year-old.”
Bet Horseracing Free Online at
TwinSpires.com