Tag: River Tiber

Auguste in November as O’Brien Team Goes Sunny Side Up

ARCADIA, USA — In case you're wondering, Aidan O'Brien had scrambled eggs for breakfast. That was just after he had watched his squad of ten take a stronger turn around Santa Anita's dirt track and before he had a chance to consider a second course at the lavish buffet by politely stepping outside to answer questions from a few annoying hacks, this one included.

Ryan Moore has been aboard Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint contender Cherry Blossom (Ire) (No Nay Never) these last two mornings. “Is that a tip?” we enquired. “No, someone asked me that already. I'll show you,” replied O'Brien, digging his phone from his pocket and flicking past his selfies (just kidding) to find a photo of said filly throwing shapes worthy of the rodeo.

“She's not for kids,” said the trainer with a grin. “You need a parachute to ride her.”

Moore, evoking thoughts of the Man from Snowy River, never shifted in his seat, his kid gloves deployed with aplomb to ensure that there were no repeat antics from Cherry Blossom. She whipped them in as the dependable Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) led them all around the cambered turn of the main track, pretty much in age-descending order. 

As ever, the Ballydoyle horses on tour have been one of the highlights of a morning at the track. No other visitors have as many to go out together, and horses trained at Santa Anita tend to appear for exercise solo or in pairs. It is an arresting sight then, with the sun fully up as if to light the group to full effect, to witness this spectacle of almost synchronised breezing.

“They might have got a bit of a shock this morning,” said O'Brien, referring to the kickback for those in behind Broome, which included his fellow Longines Breeders' Cup Turf runners Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Auguste Rodin (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). “We didn't want to go on the grass today as it's plenty quick and [the dirt] opens up their mind anyway.”

Five of the pack, the youngsters at the back, will face the starter on Friday; the other half take their chances come Saturday.

With Cherry Blossom finding what O'Brien believes could be her optimum conditions in the Turf Sprint, she reverts to five furlongs for the first time since her debut, and is the first of the team to jump into action, hopefully not literally.

“She's a fast filly and wasn't really getting six at home, and this flat track should suit her, as well as the ground,” he said.

Content (Ire) is out of a fast filly in Mecca's Angel (Ire) but as her sire is Galileo (Ire), the mile of the Juvenile Fillies Turf seems more her go.

“She'll definitely get the trip, the fast ground will suit her better and she has a nice draw,” the trainer added. Tick, tick, tick for the last-start winner of the G3 Staffordstown Stud S. “Ryan will probably take his time on her and ride her for a little bit of luck. She needs to relax a little bit early and then she should run well.”

Ballydoyle is mob-handed in the final race of Friday's card, the Juvenile Turf, with the first two favourites, both by Wootton Bassett (GB), being River Tiber (Ire) and Unquestionable (Fr), ridden by Moore and Frankie Dettori. They are joined by Mountain Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), the imposing mount of Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Of River Tiber, O'Brien said, “We think he's come right since Newmarket and he's rated 3lbs below the other horse but he was always a very classy horse. He should get a mile around here; it's a nice draw and a flat track and I'm looking forward to seeing what he does.”

There's something for everyone in Saturday's team. The three-year-old Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never), who was just a length off Highfield Princess (Fr) when third in the Prix de l'Abbaye, is perhaps a little overlooked in the Turf Sprint, especially since the defection of Bradsell on Wednesday evening. 

“Ryan felt in France that if he had challenged the winner a little earlier he might have been even closer but it was a huge run from him,” said his trainer. 

Before that there's the intriguing puzzle of Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) stepping up in trip while O'Brien's Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) comes back in distance for the Filly & Mare Turf after her victories in the Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille.

And it must be said, having been lucky to see her at close quarters over the last few days, it's hard not to fall in love with Warm Heart. Her demure demeanour clearly masks her warrior instincts, however, as O'Brien said of the three-year-old, “She doesn't lie down, she does fight. She has a nice draw and I imagine that Ryan will probably go forward on her. She has tactical speed and will get the trip very well.”

There's no doubting that the race most of the huge European contingent now camped out at Santa Anita is looking forward to the most is the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Shadwell's stud plans for Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}) were confirmed on Thursday morning, while we already know that Onesto (Ire), also by Frankel, is joining Haras d'Etreham and King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will remain in training next year. What then for Auguste Rodin? If he knows, O'Brien ain't telling, but it is a safe bet that plans are to an extent contingent on what happens this weekend. 

Would American breeders appreciate another chance at the sire-line of the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic winner who got away, Sunday Silence? Or is Ireland the natural home for a dual Derby and Irish Champion S. winner? Could we even see Auguste Rodin race on next year? Time will tell, maybe as soon as Saturday night, but in the meantime, there is the prospect of an almighty tussle between four of the best horses in Europe and some smart Japanese and American runners. 

“Obviously we'd love to have him but it will be whatever the boss decides,” said O'Brien, ever the diplomat, on the subject of Auguste Rodin's post-Breeders' Cup future.

Of the immediate matter in hand, he said, “Rachel [Richardson] rode him this morning and was very happy with him. He cruised around on the dirt; he's a lovely long-striding horse. The plan was always for him to go to Leopardstown and then to come here. This is what we've been looking forward to all year. He's won two Derbys and a Champion Stakes and he's only a three-year-old. He really has done well since Leopardstown.”

O'Brien added, “Did you see him on the dirt this morning? He looks like a dirt horse. If you look at Sunday Silence and look at him they are almost identical.”

It certainly was a sight to behold, as Auguste Rodin stretched out over the track where Sunday Silence was trained more than 30 years ago. The colt, who can appear on the small side in the company of burlier sprinters, looks an entirely different animal unleashed at full stretch. The image of him extending past King Of Steel down the hill at Epsom is still vivid in the mind but there have been good days and head-scratching days since then in the career of Auguste Rodin. 

With no disrespect to his stable-mates Bolshoi Ballet and Broome, he's the one on whose near-black shoulders the hopes are resting. Maybe we'll get the chance to see if Auguste Rodin really is a dirt horse in next year's Classic, but for now his sole aim is to emulate another Ballydoyle star, High Chaparral (Ire), in taking the Derby, Irish Derby and Breeders' Cup Turf in the same season. Game on.

 

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Royal Ascot Talking Points: Record-Breaking O’Brien And Paddington Steal The Show

Day one done and dusted and it's hard to imagine that there will be a more impressive Group 1 winner than Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) at Royal Ascot this week. 

The manner in which he swept aside the Guineas hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the St James's Palace S. was something to behold. So, too, has been the progression the colt has put in this season. 

Paddington reappeared to win the prestigious Madrid Handicap at Naas off just 97 and shares something in common with fellow Aidan O'Brien-trained Group 1 winners Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Treasure Beach (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in that he cut his teeth in handicaps before recording top-notch successes. 

It's fascinating to see how far Paddington has come in such a short space of time and it will be even more interesting to predict where he might end up this season. 

He has given a strong indication that he will be even better over further and his pedigree would back that up being by Siyouni and out of a Montjeu (Ire) mare. 

Connections must be thinking about stepping Paddington up to 10 furlongs in time, with races like the Coral-Eclipse and possibly even the Irish Champion S. the most obvious races for him if they lean that way.

His success on Tuesday carried added significance given O'Brien became the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history after he crossed the winning line. 

O'Brien's tally at the royal meeting now stands at 83 winners. He is just 53 years old.  Like Paddington, there will be a lot more to come. 

River Tiber An Important Winner

The Coventry has a tendency to throw up the odd forgettable winner every now and again. In fact, no winner of the race has gone on to land a Classic since the 2012 scorer Dawn Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who remained unbeaten at two and landed the following year's 2,000 Guineas for Jim Bolger. 

Few would bet against River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) charting a similar path and he could be the horse to bridge that Classic gap for the Coventry and something like the Dewhurst would look to be an obvious target for the colt this term.

“Different class,” is how Ryan Moore described the winner, and that is as good a summary as any for a horse who took over from long-time leader Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) deep inside the last furlong before putting almost two lengths between that rival and then holding the late flourish of the runner-up [Army Ethos (GB) (Shalaa {Ire})].

It was a performance of some substance, and one that earned River Tiber his position at the head of the betting for next year's 2,000 Guineas, for which he can be backed at odds of 10-1. 

The win provided Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending 10th Coventry success, which makes the master of Ballydoyle the most successful trainer in the race's history, but an even bigger subplot to emerge from River Tiber winning was how Coolmore's investment in Wootton Bassett is beginning to pay off. 

The Coventry was a big race for the stallion given Amo Racing's Bucanero Fuerte (GB) also ran a huge race to fill the placings back in third on just his second career start.

O'Brien touched on how excited he is about the progeny of the stallion, and rightly so, judging by the early accomplishments of Wootton Bassett at Coolmore. 

Bradsell Pays Big Compliment To Bear

Speaking of the Coventry, last year's winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) ensured that the words forgettable will never apply to him when he clung on to land a dramatic edition of the G1 King's Stand S. 

Much of the chat about Friday's Commonwealth Cup has revolved around Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), who had Bradsell confined to the rear-view mirror at Haydock last month. 

Between O'Brien's fantastic start to the royal meeting and Bradsell providing the form with a major boost, one should expect that Little Big Bear won't go off the colour of the 13-8 that is on offer right now. 

Worth Forgiving Sub-Par Efforts 

For a nation that supposedly doesn't have any good sprinters, Britain didn't do too badly by sending out the first 10 home in the King's Stand. 

Indeed, there were genuine excuses for the Australian runners Coolangatta (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) and Cannonball (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}) given the rain that fell beforehand would not have played to their strengths. 

It should also be noted that Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), last year's Queen Mary winner and a well-backed 7-2 chance before the off, can be forgiven for failing to get involved after racing alone on the stand's side rail with Cannonball. 

Melbourne Cup Could Be Calling For Vauban

Willie Mullins has been talking about the Melbourne Cup for Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) even before the gelding won the Triumph Hurdle last year. 

Connections came desperately close to winning the race in 2015 with Max Dynamite (Fr) (Great Journey {Jpn}) and in Vauban, hugely impressive in landing the Copper Horse Handicap, they could well realise the dream. 

Three Cheers For Brilliant Broodmare Reem Three

How good is Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire})? A three-time winner and listed placed when in training with Luca Cumani, she now boasts three Royal Ascot winners as a broodmare after the success of the aptly-named Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Queen Anne S. 

Reem Three had already supplied Wokingham winner Cape Byron and Britannia scorer Ostilio, not to mention Ajman Princess finishing second in the Ribblesdale. A tremendous record. 

A Mare In Foal An Unstoppable Force? Henderson Thinks So

Ascot Stakes winner Ahorsewithnoname (GB) (Cacique {Ire}) will soon be off to the paddocks after connections of the Nicky Henderson-trained mare revealed that she was in foal to Cracksman (GB). 

There are some who swear that mares running in foal improve their performance, but it's almost impossible to prove it makes that much of a difference if any at all. 

One thing's for certain, Ahorsewithnoname's career-best performance was a timely one, and Henderson was left convinced that getting the mare covered in the spring played an integral part in the Royal Ascot success. 

He explained, “It definitely changed her. She's just much sharper. She used to be much more relaxed at home but when she came back from [being covered in] Newmarket, it certainly woke her up a bit. It's been a tried and tested route but you can only do it once. You've got 90 days–so, as I say, you can only do it once. 

“We're pretty sure it had an effect. Now, with some, it might have the opposite effect. They might go all dreamy and sleepy and mummy. There's no doubt [it worked].”

Of course, Ahorsewithnoname is not the only mare to have recorded successes at the royal meeting whilst in foal.

Credit to Kevin Blake on Sky Sports Racing for the knowledge, but Indian Queen (GB) (Electric I {GB}) was also in foal when storming to her Gold Cup win in 1991. 

 

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‘The Best Thing on the Planet’: Who Are We To Disagree?

ASCOT, UK–Some of us get slower as we get older. Bradsell (GB) is getting faster. So much so that, instead of treading the more obvious three-year-old sprinter route to the Commonwealth Cup, trainer Archie Watson talked the colt's owner Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa into supplementing him for the King's Stand S., and what an inspired move that turned out to be.

It takes a good horse to win at Royal Ascot once, but a proper horse to return triumphant, dropped back in trip to the minimum and with a little to prove as his comeback from the injury that curtailed his juvenile season gathered momentum.

Watson will have dreaded the sound of stewards' klaxon not long after Bradsell passed the post in front after he drifted a little towards the runner-up and last season's crack sprinter Highfield Princess (Fr). The trainer had the 2021 Commonwealth Cup all but snatched from his clutches when Dragon Symbol (GB) bumped Campanelle (Ire) in running and was demoted to second. Tension was writ large on Watson's face as he awaited the outcome of a prolonged stewards' enquiry, already in the winner's circle but reluctant to say too much in interviews being conducted as if he had won. Just half an hour earlier, Watson, his stable jockey Hollie Doyle, and Shaikh Nasser had had to settle for second with Army Ethos (GB) in the Coventry, a great run in itself for the Shalaa (Ire) colt who had made just one previous winning start. 

Finally able to relax when it was confirmed that Bradsell had given him his third Royal Ascot victory and, more importantly, a second Group 1, he said, “I know we're seen as a big yard, but for a yard like us to be winning a Group 1 here is the best thing on the planet. There was dread when that bing-bong happened, especially having just been chinned in the Coventry.”

When Watson spoke to TDN last week, he was effusive in his praise of bloodstock agent Tom Biggs, the youngest member of the Blandford Bloodstock team with whom he has formed a strong partnership. Biggs, who appears far too self-effacing for his chosen profession, was another one blowing his cheeks out with relief as the trainer went to collect his trophy.

“We don't have huge budgets, we work hard at the sales and these days don't come along very often. He's just a very fast horse,” he said.

Biggs and Watson bought Bradsell, who became the first Group 1 winner for his Shadwell sire Tasleet (GB), from last year's Goffs UK Breeze-up Sale from Mark Grant for £47,000. He then changed hands privately following his nine-length debut success to make his first start in the Victorious Racing colours in the Coventry S. One run later a mid-race stumble in the Phoenix S. and subsequent leg fracture put paid to the rest of his juvenile campaign.

“It was quite a nasty injury but his temperament is so fantastic,” Biggs added. “When he breezed I loved his action and the way he got his head down and he got better the further he went. He's just a great horse to be involved with.”

Bradsell was bred by Deborah O'Brien, who has moved up two generations in the sire-line for this year's mating for his dam Russian Punch (GB) (Archipenko). The mare is now in foal to Oasis Dream (GB).

Bradsell's successor in the Coventry roll of honour, River Tiber (Ire), was a member of the final French crop of Wootton Bassett (GB) conceived at €40,000 before he joined the Coolmore ranks. It is hard to imagine that there are not bigger and better things to come from this stallion given the line-up of mares he has covered since moving to Coolmore, where his fee has jumped to €100,000 then €150,000. As an extra vote of confidence in Wootton Bassett, MV Magnier and Peter Brant paid 480,000gns last year for the subsequent Coventry winner at Tattersalls October Book 1. His breeder Ger Morrin of Pier House Stud would have been celebrating then, but this is where it's really at, and Morrin was all smiles as he accepted congratulations from the Coolmore camp and many others alongside the winner's circle.

“Fabulous,” he said. “He was always a fabulous-looking horse. He nearly died as a foal and thankfully we were able to save him. These are great people and he was good-looking yearling so they came and bought him.”

Morrin added that River Tiber's dam Transcendence (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) is now back in foal to Wootton Bassett. 

The Tabor colours carried by River Tiber were soon back in action aboard Paddington (GB), who made it a memorable day for the group of Coolmore owners by handing out a comprehensive defeat to Juddmonte's Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the battle of the Guineas winners in the St James's Palace S. Relatively rarely for these two superpowers of the breeding world, neither colt is a homebred. 

For Aidan O'Brien, Paddington's victory was particularly significant as it took him past Sir Michael Stoute as the most successful trainer at Royal Ascot with 83 wins to his credit, nine of which have come in the St James's Palace S.

While Ryan Moore, with three winners on the day, stole the limelight from the retiring (eventually) Frankie Dettori, the leading owner-breeder honours unquestionably went to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. His Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) got the meeting off to a great start with victory in the Queen Anne S. for Kevin Ryan and Neil Callan, and a double was completed in the Wolferton with the Roger Varian-trained Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal).

The importance of a royal champion to British horseracing cannot be understated and it can only be hoped that the sport now has two. We have grown accustomed over many decades to the welcome message in the front of the racecard being in the name of 'Elizabeth R'. This year, for the first time, a joint message was signed 'Charles R' and 'Camilla R'. 

Significantly, the new King and Queen led the royal procession for the first day of the meeting and will do so throughout. Joining them in the carriages, perhaps symbolically, was Ralph Beckett, their first trainer back in 2008 of a homebred filly bred in the January after they married. Fittingly, she was a daughter of King's Best, named Royal Superlative (GB). The colours of the royal couple have changed now to those distinguished purple and red silks made famous in the modern era by the runners of Queen Elizabeth II. 

This year's royal welcome message was concluded by acknowledging the owners, breeders and trainers who make this meeting possible. The King and Queen said, “It is a huge and rare achievement to have a runner at Royal Ascot and we very much hope that you all enjoy the experience.”

Judging by the scenes of revelry around the bandstand and in the car parks post-racing, a good day was had by many. One down, four to go. 

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Plays And Lays: Who Are The Juveniles To Side With And Against At Ascot?

It never ceases to amaze how much debate the two-year-old races at Royal Ascot generate each year. A quick scan on racing Twitter over the past few days confirmed as much. 

For all the fascinating puzzles that the royal meeting will serve up this week, including whether Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) can cope with Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the St James's Palace, what will reign supreme in the Prince Of Wales's or if any of the Australian sprinters can land a blow in the King's Stand S., it's the juvenile races that seem to be generating the most chatter.

TDN Europe's Brian Sheerin has taken a look at the main juvenile races to be run at Ascot and tried to decipher who to be on and who to side against this week. 

G2 Coventry S. – Tuesday

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The Coventry features a battle between TDN Rising Stars River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and it's hard to argue that the market has not got this one right. 

Favourites have a good record in the Coventry, with five of the past 12 doing the business, and River Tiber does not appear to have many chinks in his armour. 

A 10-length winner on soft ground at Navan on debut, Aidan O'Brien's charge proved just as effective on good ground when carrying a winner's penalty in a conditions event at Naas. 

The form of that race has worked out well since, with the fourth home, Supersonic Man (GB) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), now a 16-1 chance for the Windsor Castle after winning nicely at Tipperary last time. 

Wootton Bassett has had a couple of high-class juvenile performers, including Al Riffa (Fr) and Chindit (Ire), and River Tiber has already posted some decent figures. 

It's unoriginal but there's very little not to like about the Ballydoyle colt and he may well prove another winning favourite of the Coventry. 

Lay

Asadna put in one of the most visually impressive two-year-old performances of the season so far when streaking 12 lengths clear of his rivals on debut at Ripon but the case could be made that odds of 7-2 about him in the Coventry look skimpy. 

For all that he was mightily impressive, the form of that race has not worked out, and he obviously hadn't been showing connections that brilliance at home given he was allowed to go off a 4-1 chance on the day. 

Compared to River Tiber, who has gone on and beaten better opposition after his wide-margin debut win, the George Boughey-trained Asadna has not been tested since that emphatic Ripon success. 

Asadna could well be a freak, but River Tiber represents an altogether different test to what he faced on debut and he could be worth taking on at the prices. 

Dark horse

Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) could be the one who is slipping in under the radar in the Coventry. 

Amo Racing may have had the runner-up in the Derby this year but the modus operandi of the operation has been to unearth classy two-year-olds, and this guy looked just that when winning the opening juvenile maiden of the year in Ireland at the Curragh. 

Not seen since then, Bucanero Fuerte will need to overcome the fact that 11 out of the past 12 Coventry runners had run within a month of Royal Ascot, but fitness shouldn't be a worry given he hails from such a professional operation. 

He's drawn beside the speedy Asadna so should get a good tow into the race. At odds of 16-1, this brother to Wooded (Ire) could represent better each-way value than the Boughey runner. 

G2 Queen Mary S. – Wednesday

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Beautiful Diamond (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) would appear the one to be on. Karl Burke is operating at a whopping 26% strike-rate with his juveniles this term and he probably doesn't have many more exciting young fillies in his yard than this daughter of Twilight Son. 

Snapped up by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock for £360,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale from Tradewinds Stud, Beautiful Diamond made a perfect start to her career at Nottingham. 

There was a lot to like about the performance given she won by over three lengths going away at the line without having to be asked for maximum effort. 

Hailing from a stable who won this race last year and carrying the yellow and black silks of Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, which have been synonymous with Royal Ascot winners, it's hard to get away from Beautiful Diamond in the Queen Mary. 

Lay

Like Bright Diamond, Born To Rock (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) was snapped up from breeze-up sales and made an immediate impact when landing a Yarmouth maiden in good style. 

However, the form of the race has not worked out as well as one might have hoped and, given she was installed as a 10-1 chance immediately afterwards, it's hard to be too enthused by the 9-2 on offer. 

Not only have the second and third from that Yarmouth maiden disappointed on their subsequent starts but the fourth home, Mantra (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), who was beaten just over five lengths by Born To Rock, was then beaten by over 15 lengths by Beautiful Diamond at Nottingham.

Given Mantra had the advantage of a run under her belt, one would have thought that she ought to be getting closer to Beautiful Diamond than she did. At roughly the same prices, Beautiful Diamond would have to represent the better value. 

Dark horse

Conrad Allen is not a trainer that one would associate with Royal Ascot-winning two-year-olds and, prior to Princess Chizara (Ire) winning on debut at Brighton, the stable was 0-28 with its juveniles in the past five years. 

Admittedly, that is a small sample size, but the point stands that Princess Chizara is clearly one of the smartest juveniles the trainer has got his hands on in a very long time. 

It may only have been a Brighton maiden but there was a lot to like about how Princess Chizara  accounted for a Richard Hannon-trained 2-9 favourite to win by over four lengths at the line. 

The Cotai Glory (GB) filly was clearly well-produced by Stevie Byrne of Knockgraffon Stables at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, where she was knocked down to Allen for 65,000gns after recording one of the fastest times. 

What she lacks for in size, Princess Chizara more than makes up for in ability, and she could well out-run her 33-1 odds in what looks a deep race. 

G2 Norfolk S. – Thursday

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Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) looked the real deal when landing a listed contest at Sandown last month and is another high-class juvenile that Karl Burke can look forward to running at the royal meeting. 

Unbeaten in both of his starts to date, Elite Status was described as a 'potential superstar sprinter' by his trainer after Sandown and it was easy to see why given he has such an honest and natural way of galloping. 

Of all the juvenile favourites running this week, Elite Status probably has the most rock-solid credentials, and he looks the one to be on in the Norfolk. 

Lay

In a normal year, American Rascal (Curlin) may well have been expected to go off favourite but the presence of Elite Status in the race means that will be unlikely. 

It's also worth noting that Wesley Ward's runners tend to be over-bet at this meeting, for all that he has enjoyed colossal success down through the years.

American Rascal looked very good when winning on debut at Keeneland but he'll need to be up there with the best of what Ward has targeted at this meeting with to give Elite Status something to think about. 

Dark horse

This is not just about the top two in the betting as Donnacha O'Brien's Devious (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) needs to be respected. 

He showed natural speed and talent when landing the odds on debut over the minimum trip at Naas where he looked a bona fide Norfolk horse and earned a TDN Rising Star in the process. He's smart.

Others to note

It is interesting that Donnacha O'Brien has secured Frankie Dettori to ride Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) in Friday's G3 Albany S. She looked good when winning a five-furlong Curragh maiden on debut and was even better when winning a Group 3 at Naas over a furlong further last month. She's clearly a filly on the up and could well go off shorter than the 8-1 that is available now. 

There are no entries for Saturday's Chesham S. but, if Pink Satin (GB) turns up, which was reported to be the plan after she won on debut at Windsor, she would have to be respected. There was plenty of each-way support around for Pink Satin at Windsor and she put a well-regarded filly to the sword to win going away by just over a length in the finish. 

She will have a relatively quick turnaround to overcome, given that debut win came just last Monday, but Paul and Oliver Cole didn't appear to be too worried about that in the winner's enclosure at Windsor. 

She looks to be another strapping daughter of Churchill (Ire) and, given it is not too uncommon for fillies to pop up in the Chesham every now and again [Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2011 and September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in 2017], she could be one to keep on side. 

 

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