Hi all,
There’s a mammoth ten races to be shown live on ITV this afternoon. Inside today’s main piece, I’ve looked at two of them from Newmarket's Future Champions Meeting.
Distant Storm Anchors Red-Hot July Form Line
One of the hottest form races of the Flat season took place on Newmarket’s July Course on 11 July. The race was won by one of the leading fancies for tomorrow’s Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, Distant Storm.
Eight subsequent winners have come out of that contest, including the runner-up Constitution River, who landed a Group 2 at the Curragh last time. I was taken with Distant Storm’s win over C&D in last month’s Group 3. He showed a sharp turn of foot to win his race in a smart time.
On ratings (see below), he has a bit to find with Group 1 National Stakes winner and runner-up Zavateri and Gstaad, but that hasn’t stopped him being backed into favouritism for Saturday’s race. He must have sparkled on the gallops recently and connections clearly expect more improvement from the son of Night Of Thunder.
If Distant Storm does win on Saturday, he’ll likely head into the winter as the ante-post favourite for next year’s 2,000 Guineas.
Newmarket: Future Champions Meeting
Aidan O’Brien runs four — Precise, Composing, Moments Of Joy, and Sugar Island — and has dominated the juvenile Group 1s this year.
Precise, the Moyglare Stakes winner, looks his leading chance. She should relish stepping up to a mile. Composing tried to make all into a stiff headwind in the Moyglare before finishing fourth. Given how well supported she was in the Moyglare, can’t be total discounted.
Joseph O’Brien has won this race twice before (2018 & 2020) and saddles another possible winner in Queen Of Hawaii. The daughter of Kingman won a Leopardstown maiden in July and has since followed up in a Group 3 at the Curragh. She has a bit to find on ratings with Precise and Composing but is an improving filly.
Of the home team, Legacy Link appeals most. She bolted up in a Haydock novice last month and looks ready for this big jump in class. The fast ground suits, and her yard’s recent record in the race adds further encouragement.
Moon Target was close behind Precise at Goodwood and ran well again when third in the Rockfel Stakes here (7f) last time. Returned to a mile, she has each way claims.
3:30 – Old Rowley Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) – 1m4f
A proper betting heat to round off the card. A strong pace looks likely, which will suit favourite Respond. He shaped well on handicap debut when third at Doncaster (1m2f) last time. The extra distance should suit, provided he settles better. His yard won this two years ago.
Dangerman has been in good form in 10f handicaps at Sandown most recently, winning two and then a good third to Saddadd off this mark last time. A return to better ground and a more positive ride could see him go close.
Yabher clipped heels andstumbled at Goodwood last time but had looked progressive before that. Ignore his Goodwood run, and his Sandown win two starts back reads well. He remains on the upgrade. If he stays, he’s a big contender.
Daiquiri Bay ran a cracker when third in the Melrose Handicap (1m6f) at York before a flat effort at Ascot on softer going last time. He’s capable of bouncing back for a yard that won this in 2019 with Trueshan.
Good luck with your Friday bets.
John