Hi all,
It was good to get the meeting off to a profitable start with Strait Of Hormuz coming from off a strong pace to land the 1m 2f handicap.
Here is a short preview of the day’s action and a handful of selections from the last three races on the card.
Doncaster St Leger Festival – Day 2
1:40 – British Stallion Studs EBF “Carrie Red” Fillies’ Nursery Handicap (Class 2) – 6 ½
Plenty of possible improvers in this nursery handicap. Eve Johnson-Houghton saddled the winner of this race last year and her representative this year is Tattoo. A winner at Wolverhampton on her last start she should be suited by the extra half furlong and looks on a competitive mark for her nursery debut.
Nazuna looked good when winning here over 7f last month. The drop back to 6 ½ f shouldn’t inconvenience as she travelled powerfully through the race. Open to plenty more progress and is the one to beat.
2:20 – May Hill Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) – 1m
Zabeel Queen a winneron her racecourse debut at Ascot 47-days ago. Open to any amount of improvement she will be suited by the step up to a mile and is expected to go close.
Indigo Girl also won her racecourse debut at Yarmouth 11-days ago. A half-sister to 1m 4f, Group 1 winner Journey she’s bred to better as a 3-year-old. It was soft ground at Yarmouth but today’s better ground should be fine. She lacks a bit of experience but is an exciting prospect going forward.
3:15 – bet365 Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (Group 2) – 1m 6 ½ f
The defection of likely favourite Alpinista means just the seven fillies are set to go the start. It’s an opportunity for Believe In Love to make her mark in Group company for the first time. A winner of her last three starts in handicap company she’s a rapidly improving filly who could easily make the step up into pattern company a winning one. Only seven runner’s mean’s the race isn’t great from an each-way perspective either.
For those looking for an alternative to the favourite Vivionn could be the answer. The Sir Michael Stoute trained 4-year-old finished runner-up in York’s Galtres Stakes last month. This is her first start beyond 1m 4f. However, more of a stamina test should suit and her full sister did win a Group 3 in Meydan over 1m 6f which gives hope today’s extra distance can bring out a bit more improvement.
1pt win – Vivionn – 15/2 @ Bet365
3:45 – Price Promise At bet365 Handicap (Class 2) – 7f
Plenty in with a chance in a competitive looking 3-year-old handicap.
Jumaira Bridge is the bookies early bird favourite. The 3-year hails from a yard that has won this race twice in the past three years. Last time out the colt won a soft ground Chepstow maiden. The colt gets the first time cheekpieces today for a return to handicap company and could be capable of better.
Eastern World a winner over a mile at Newmarket back in June. He looked the most likely winner when coming to challenge a furlong out at York last time but faded into 5th in the final 100yds. A drop back to 7f could suit with the addition of the of the first time cheekpieces.
Persuasion a winner on his juvenile racecourse debut last season and runner-up, albeit well beaten, to Wichita in Group 3 last September. Predictably outclassed (250/1) when down the field in the 2000 Guineas on reappearance. First run since for the colt since the Guineas. The booking of Frankie Dettori suggests a better run is expected on his handicap debut.
Broughton’s Gold has been in good form this season having won three of his four starts and bids for the hat trick today. Ground versatile he’s been nudged up 4lb for his last win at Newmarket but he doesn’t win his races by much so he could still be a head of the handicapper. Looks a solid each way contender.
1pt each way – Broughton’s Gold – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
4:15 – Jaguar Land Rover Doncaster JCT600 Handicap (Class 3) – 6f
The lightly raced Fresh ran the rapidly improving Starman to a neck at Lingfield two starts back. Before making a winning handicap debut at Kempton 23-days ago. Different surface today and 7lb higher but the 3-year-old is going the right way and if as effective on grass looks the most likely winner.
Jim Goldie had the one two here in the 5f handicap yesterday so Call Me Ginger must be respected. The 4-year-old bounced back from a poor Goodwood run to finish 5th of 10 at Chester last time. This more galloping track will suit, as will a strongly run race and he holds each-way claims off what looks a competitive mark.
Breanski twice a winner here over 7f is another each way contender. The 6-year-old has run with credit on his last four starts over longer distances. He’s having just his second start over sprint distances but looks worth a go in what will hopefully be strongly run 6f. Trainer Jedd O’Keeffe & jockey Andrea Atzeni combined for a win here yesterday.
1pt each way – Breanski – 9/1 @ William Hill (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
Cheers
John