Hi all,
It’s been a wet and windy Monday, and the lovely summer weather is very much in the rearview mirror.
Inside today’s preview I continue my recap of last week’s big race highlights.
Doncaster St Leger Meeting
Thursday
St Leger opening day wasn’t one to excite in terms of quality. There were two Group 2 contests. Santorini Star was a good winner of the fillies’ St Leger, the Park Hill Stakes, while Aylin ground out a slow-motion success in a sub-standard May Hill Stakes.
Friday: Revival Power shines
Sweet William landed a second Goodwood Cup. It was his first victory since last year’s renewal, and he’ll surely be trained with a hat-trick in mind. He’s had critics in the past, but you couldn’t fault his attitude in seeing off the 3yo Pendragon. Despite pulling early, Pendragon proved his stamina for 2m2f. He’s 10/1 with Paddy Power and Sky Bet for next month’s Cesarewitch, which looks big. If he lines up, he’ll be nearer 7/2 than double figures.
The star on Friday was Revival Power in the Flying Childers Stakes. I still can’t believe I didn’t back her after all the praise I’d given her in this column. She’s really taken off on her last two starts and a fast, flat 5f clearly plays to her strengths. I said after York that connections would surely be working back from next year’s Nunthorpe, a race her sister Winter Power won in 2012. Given her size, Revival Power can progress further at three. With the sprinting division lacking a standout, she might just be the one.
Saturday
I covered the St Leger itself in Monday’s column, but two more Group races stood out.
Puerto Rico broke his maiden tag at the sixth attempt when making all in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes. A switch to front-running tactics sparked the improvement, though in truth he may just have beaten some moderate rivals. His next outing will reveal more but for now I’m cautious.
Marvelman took the Group 2 Park Stakes, registering a first turf win at the eighth attempt. He’s a good horse, ideally suited by 7f, but this was a weak Group 2 and he beat some underperforming rivals.
Overall, Doncaster’s St Leger Festival had better depth than recent years, particularly in the handicaps. Credit to the course for putting together a surprisingly strong four days on Town Moor.
Irish Champions Weekend
Leopardstown
I looked at Delacroix and Fallen Angel in Monday’s column, but another standout was Benvenuto Cellini. He didn’t beat much in the Group 2 Champions Juvenile Stakes, yet the style of his 5-length win marked him out as exciting prospect. Now 2 from 3, he relished drying ground. The Futurity at Doncaster is next and at 5/2 with Bet365 he looks value—odds-on on the day wouldn’t surprise. Longer term he’s a Derby contender, and 12/1 with William Hill for Epsom looks fair.
Curragh
Four Group 1s lit up Sunday’s card.
In the Moyglare, odds-on Composing could only manage fourth. She had her own way in front, but the stiff headwind told late. Given the market confidence she’ll likely bounce back. Venetian Sun lost her unbeaten record in third but wasn’t disgraced. I remain positive about her. Beautify looked the winner a furlong out before being collared by stablemate Precise, who could now head to Del Mar. I remain convinced we haven’t seen the best of Beautify.
Zavateri proves tough
The National Stakes went to Zavateri, who I felt had been underestimated at 5/1—he returned 15/2. Market confidence was all for Aidan O’Brien’s Gstaad (10/11 fav), who looked the winner when quickening to the lead a furlong out, but Zavateri is tough and edged him out. Gstaad proved his stamina for 7f and will be a major player in the Dewhurst, while Zavateri could be put away for the Guineas. The form of the race looks strong. Zavateri may not physical scope of some of his contemporise but they say the 2,000 Guineas is the final juvenile race so I wouldn’t underestimate his chance in his next first colt’s classic.
The Irish St Leger went to Al Riffa, who had too much class and speed for rivals. He could head for the Melbourne Cup, and Cup races next year might well be on the agenda. Runner-up Amiloc lost his unbeaten record but improved again and is Breeders’ Cup Turf-bound. Given his liking fast ground, I can see him going well at Del Mar. Favourite Illinois was a major disappointment, with no excuses and has questions to answer now.
In the Flying Five, Arizona Blaze bounced back from York’s Nunthorpe flop and have his turn on the Group 1 sprint roulette, but I think he can win again before the season is out. His big target remains Del Mar and the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He was second in last year in the Juvenile Turf Sprint and can well there again.
Last Week’s Eyecatchers
There were a few to note last week at both Doncaster and during Irish Champions Weekend.
Doncaster
Devil's Advocate dictated matters from the front to land Thursday’s Oddschecker Handicap (1m2f). The pair in behind are worth marking up. Hopewell Rock ran well back on easier ground but couldn’t peg back the winner. He’d have preferred a stronger pace and is on a winnable mark. Respond was again a little keen and, like the runner-up, would have been suited by a truer gallop. He’s started handicaps on a good mark and there should be more to come.
Little Dorrit, back from an improved effort in the Listed Galtres Stakes, shaped well on handicap debut. She finished well into fourth, just a head behind the progressive winner Cape Flora in Friday’s 1m4f handicap. She did best of the closers and could stay further. However, connections play it, there’s a handicap in her.
Sword Maker, progressive in three starts, made a smooth winning nursery debut (6f) on Friday. His 3-length success came from stall 13, the only double-digit draw to make the first six, so his effort can be marked up. He remains a work in progress. Worth noting winning jockey & trainer, Oisin Murphy and Saeed bin Suroor have a fine record in handicaps. Since 2024, they’ve combined for nine winners from twelve runners 75% ( +22.59 to SP), with ten placing.
Fivethousandtoone – Tim Easterby
He’s likely better on synthetics, but his turf mark is 10lb lower. He shaped well when staying on into sixth, beaten 2½ lengths by Eternal Sunshine in Saturday’s Portland Handicap (5½f). He could take advantage of his lower turf mark and could do so in one of the Ayr Gold Cup consolation races. Trainer Tim Easterby has won both the Silver Cup and Bronze Cup twice since 2019.
Irish Champions Weekend
The one to note was Light As Air. A Curragh maiden winner (1m4f), he improved for first-time blinkers and the longer trip when beaten just a head by Happy Pharoah in the Petingo Handicap (1m5f). He looks sure to stay a bit further and can pick up more races.
All the best with your Tuesday bets.
John