Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece, I complete my look back at the weekend’s big race action.
Saturday Recap
I won’t spend too long on Saturday’s action, but here are my four standout performances.
Tamfana
Tamfana won the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. She was well-positioned in a steadily run race, cruising into the lead 2f out to secure the win. A straightforward ride, she had been unlucky in the 1,000 Guineas, so this was a well-deserved Group 1 success. She will stay in training as a 4-year-old, and there are more races to be won with her.
Runner-up Inspiral ran her best race of the season but couldn’t match her younger rival. She isn’t the same horse she used to be and will now head to the paddocks. See The Fire, third, will also stay in training as a 4-year-old. A mile is on the short side for her, and she would have preferred better ground. Elmalka, fourth, was just a short head behind See The Fire. Since winning the 1,000 Guineas, she’s struggled and needs a strongly run race like she got in the Classic.
Volterra
Volterra bounced back with a win in Saturday’s big handicap at Ascot. After a good second at York’s Ebor Festival, I didn’t expect the drop to 7f to be an issue, but I didn’t anticipate he would get an uncontested lead. Some did, though, as he was heavily backed before the off.
Volterra controlled the race from the start and went clear in the final 2f. His 3½-length win doesn’t reflect his dominance, as his jockey eased him up near the finish. Kevin Ryan rates 3-year-old highly, and on this evidence, a win in pattern company seems within reach.
Runner-up and race favorite Qirat couldn’t match Volterra’s pace and looks ready for a mile. Carrytheone finished strongly and didn’t get the race run to suit. He needs an end-to-end gallop.
Akkadian Thunder, who finished eighth, was the race eyecatcher. He was travelling well 2f out but couldn’t get a run. He was just 3 lengths behind the runner-up and, with a clear run, might have finished second.
Candy
Candy kept up his improvement in nursery company, winning Redcar’s William Hill Two-Year-Old Trophy. In a race where you needed to be drawn low and up with the pace Candy was ideally positioned, and he rallied once headed by Northern Ticker in the final furlong to win.
Francisco’s Piece as expected ran well on soft ground, snatching second from Northern Ticker. Northern Ticker looked the likely winner when leading a furlong out, but greenness and testing ground saw him falter close to home against two battle-hardened rivals. I liked his chances before the race and still think he’ll be the best of these as a 3-year-old.
It’s bit late now but there’s been a noticeable draw bias at Redcar in recent weeks. If you were on one drawn high on the straight course you’ve had no chance.
Kyprios
What more can I say about Kyprios? He’s a remarkable horse. His win in Saturday’s Prix du Cadran was his third in the race and his eighth Group 1 success overall, making him Aidan O’Brien’s most successful Group 1 horse. He’ll finish his season in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Champions Day, where he’ll be odds-on. It’s hard to see what beats him.
And Finally…
I backed Kinross in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Foret, and he ran a good race in second. But in hindsight, I let sentiment cloud my judgment and overlooked Ramatuelle’s strong form.
Ramatuelle had finished third in both the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, finishing ahead of Tamfana in the former race, who easily won the Sun Chariot Stakes on Saturday.
I even wrote in Sunday’s Arc Day preview:
“A strongly run 7f should suit, and she looks to have a handy low draw in stall 6.”
I had already decided to back Kinross and didn’t reconsider after Tamfana’s win. A lesson learned: always be ready to adjust when new information comes to light.
The weekend reminded us of the old racing adage: fillies and mares in the autumn not only maintain their form but often improve against the males.
A poor Saturday sandwiched between a profitable Friday and Sunday summed up my weekend. However, Saturday's losses were limited by five successful lays. As the flat season winds down to next month’s conclusion, I'll be switching my lays to the jumps. If you want consistent profits over the winter months, you can get them here.
Tuesday Racing
A moderate day’s racing on Tuesday, but the 2m 2f beginners’ chase (4:15) at Galway is one to watch for the future. In 2021, the race was won by Noble Yeats, and last year by Perceval Legallois. Other useful chasers, like Stumptown, Yeah Man, and Meetingofthewaters, have all made their chase debuts in this race in recent seasons. A race to watch for future winners over fences.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets!
John