SATURDAY
GOODWOOD
2.15 BETFRED TV EBF STALLIONS DAISY WARWICK STAKES (FILLES’ LISTED) – 1 M 4 F
TAMASHA won at the first time of asking last season albeit at a far lower level than what she faces here.
She was then upped to this class on her only subsequent start at Lingfield and although she was not involved in the finish, she ran a fair race on what was her first attempt on a polytrack surface.
Ralph Beckett has an excellent record with his fillies and she is bound to have matured throughout the winter. This daughter of Sea The Stars will appreciate the return to turf and she is bred to see out every yard of this trip.
Jordan Princess is likely to prove popular having already scored over this course and distance last season. Luca Cumani has his yard in blistering form and this four year old is likely to be primed to go well on what is her seasonal reappearance. Adam Kirby takes over in the saddle for the first time and they have to rate as the biggest threat to the selection. Arabian Comet needs a trip of at least this far and went well on a sound surface last year. Joe Fanning knows the four year old inside out and they fully deserve their place in the line-up.
Tamasha remains completely unexposed and it is highly unlikely that we have seen the best of her. She is worthy of another chance and goes well fresh.
NEWMARKET
2.30 PEARL BLOODSTOCK PALACE HOUSE STAKES (GROUP 3) – 5 FURLONGS
Watchable ran a pleasing race at this track on what was his seasonal debut a little over a fortnight ago.
He was only just denied by Astaire and connections have now decided to drop him to the minimum trip for the first time in his career. He clearly possesses plenty of speed and with a run under his belt, he could well prove tough to beat. Danny Tudhope is the only jockey to have ever won on the five year old and with ground conditions in their favour, they should be capable of another solid account.
The pace is likely to be frantic given the presence of Tangerine Trees and Stepper Point, who both like to lead. The former is a veteran of this game now, but he showed he still retained plenty of ability when winning readily at Musselburgh last time.
Stepper Point chalked up a notable win in the Flying FIve at the Curragh last season. A recent outing in Meydan should have him brought him on in no uncertain terms and he is likely to be seen in a much better light here. Watchable is improving and is still fairly lightly raced compared to quite a few of these rivals. David O’ Meara has his yard in excellent form and his charge has to be high on any shortlist.
3.45 QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS STAKES (GROUP 1) – 1 MILE
Territories was supplemented for this race at the beginning of the week and Andre Fabre is a master at targeting specific races for his horses.
The three year old returned to winning ways at Longchamp earlier in the month and he comes here at peak fitness. He is partnered once again by Mickael Barzalona, who has an excellent strike rate at this track, and having seen out this one mile trip with the minimum of fuss last time he commands utmost respect.
Gleneagles was a smart performer last year and notched up a hat-trick of wins at the Curragh including the Group One National Stakes. Ryan Moore would have had the choice of the Ballydoyle runners and his mount has some of the best form in the book. This is a first attempt at a mile and a first outing since last October where. If fit enough to do himself justice he has to be feared from a yard that won this race five times since 2002.
Richard Hannon trained the winner and the fourth in this race last year and he sends four runners into battle. The best chance would appear to lie with Estidkhaar who has seen sustained support in the market since finishing second to Muharar on his seasonal debut.
Elm Park won four in a row last year including once over this course and distance. Andrew Balding seemed impressed with his recent workout, but the lack of a recent run is cause for concern. Territories has no such worries and provided his draw in stall 19 does not prove too much of a hindrance, he may well take this prize back across the English Channel.
Selections:
Saturday
Goodwood 2.15 Tamasha
Newmarket 2.30 Watchable
Newmarket 3.45 Territories (NAP)
