STAR PREVIEW Sun: 1000 Guineas Day

Racing from Newmarket, Haydock and Lingfield, including the 1,000 Guineas (3:35pm)
Live on Sky Sports Racing HD from 12:45pm, Racing TV from 12:45pm and ITV 1HD and ITV Player from 1:30 pm

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A top class day’s racing was so nearly made perfect, as Wichita was always travelling well and managed to fight off Pinatubo in the 2,000 Guineas before Kameko just caught him in the last strides. That neck denied us an 11/1 winner, although we do have the Derby favourite in our ante-post corner and nobody can begrudge the brilliant Oisin Murphy this success, having ridden Kameko brilliantly through a midfield scrum before taking dead aim at the leader. Andrew Balding appears keen to go to Epsom – even if David Redvers apparently had other ideas – and if he does, he’ll have the best form chance in the field on paper. Stamina will be a question mark for him, but the way he’s seen out his two Group 1 victories suggest he doesn’t lack for fortitude and the scheduling ought to suit his chances with less time for trials.

Wichita ran a storming race and a productive season should be in the offing – the Irish Guineas and Royal Ascot will come too soon but the mile division is open this year. Pinatubo, who was one of the first off the bridle, fought hard and ran with credit but appeared to suffer the fate of many a juvenile – finding other horses have caught up to him – and he could be hard to place. He’d be a fascinating horse dropped in trip but a faster mile might suit him too.

Autumn Stakes winner Military March ran a storming race to be fourth, and the Derby looks a ready-made target for him. He’s now a best price of 6/1 for Epsom and would be – on paper – more likely to stay and Kameko. Juan Elcano ran a belting race on his comeback and will have plenty of options going forward, but two big eyecatchers were Kinross and Starcat.

Kinross was cut across by Kameko when the winner made his run, and then outpace by the front four, but he stuck on well and was having just his third start. He’ll keep improving from this but even more taking was Starcat, who came here having won just a novice stakes in December, was the widest horse on the track who went forward early into what was a hot pace, and was still fighting two and a half furlongs out before he retreated. He showed huge natural ability and will be exciting to follow this season, with a sharper test possibly suiting.

Elsewhere, Terebellum cost Star a packet in the Dahlia Stakes but was a seriously impressive winner and will have every chance of taking a Group 1 this season amongst her own sex, perhaps in France, where she progressed so much last season. Queen Power and Magic Lily ran strong races and help underline the form.

Shades Of Blue missed the kick in the Palace House and that was it, but Far Above’s early speed was brilliant and when he recovers (godwilling) from finishing lame then he’ll have earned a shot at a Group 1. Shades Of Blue will have another chance on these pages – she didn’t look to love the track and didn’t get a run.

Waldkonig was ‘only’ third in the Newmarket Stakes, but didn’t disgrace himself and looked at sea in the dip before being caught for second on the line. A more conventional track ought to suit him but don’t forget the winner Mishriff, who set seriously powerful fractions and didn’t relent. He was likely fitter from a trip to Saudi Arabia in February, but this victory was his on merit and wherever he goes next he’d have to be respected. Volkan Star finished his race well on his first start since being gelded and might be one for a run at a valuable handicap.

Onto the second classic of the the season.

1,000 Guineas:

The best juveniles largely dominated the 2,000 Guineas, with the first and third being Group 1 winners, and those at the top of the market once again make approval. The Fillies’ Mile (run over course and distance in October) looks to be the strongest trial form, and it’s immensely frustrating that Powerful Breeze (who travelled best there and made the biggest in race move) misses out through injury.

Winner Quadrilateral (first time tongue-tie) received a great ride from Jason Watson to overcome her inexperience, sneak up on the rail, and snatch victory within the last hundred yards. She is obviously hugely talented and should be better at 3 – the big question for her is if she’ll be able to race more proactively this time around, or if the pace will be as strong.

Moyglare winner Love deserves extra credit for her third there, having raced close to what was a strong pace before making her challenge early (was in-front at 3-furlong pole, and one of first to go for home fully) and that she finished just one and three quarter lengths behind Quadrilateral. She is more exposed than that rival, but there’s no reason why she shouldn’t be able to train on and there shouldn’t be much between the two this time around either.

Boomer was fairly well beaten – three and a half lengths – in the Fillies’ Mile, but she also raced very prominently and it’s notable that she was facing was the softest ground she encountered as a juvenile. Assuming that the course does not get deluged overnight, she should be on faster surface here and she’d run Powerful Breeze close in the May Hill to boot beforehand, and that form is amongst the best here.

The other key form is the Cheveley Park, where Millisle came with a late rattle to get the better of Raffle Prize in the final furlong. She relished a fast pace in a well-run race, and posted an impressive time (course record was lowered until Earthlight won Middle Park later; completed the last 3f in 33.84s compared to Quadrilateral’s 37.16s, with thanks to Simon Rowlands for the data) – and the form of the Cheveley Park stands up well to boot. Stamina – at face value – wouldn’t be a worry, although Starspangledbanner’s top, top progeny appear to do better at just short of a mile (that said, has 17/46 winners to runners at 7-9f and 15% strike rate).

All three hold big chances, but if the race drops Boomer’s way then she is definitely overpriced and she’s the choice for each/way support.

It says a lot about Shimmering that she’s running her on just her third start, and the form of the Johnston team alerts one to Rose Of Kildare’s chance of outrunning her price. Under The Stars has to reverse form Love from last season’s Moyglare but is one of the better horses in the field and Summer Romance may have been a tad exposed towards the backend of last season. Les Hogues’ French form reads extremely well and she’s not without her chances.

Elsewhere:

Mark Johnston has come out of lockdown with a bang and his Communique can go well in the Buckhound Stakes (1.50). His five-year-old charge took the scalps of Defoe and Coronet here when taking the Jockey Club Stakes last season and repeated the trick when carrying a penalty to win the Princess Of Wales’s Tattersalls Stakes at the July Meeting. A close second in the Gosser Preis von Berlin, he bombed out twice after that but paid the price for trying to match strides with Ghaiyyath at Baden-Baden and might have been over the top when second last in the Preis Von Europa. His form after a break isn’t particularly notable, but Mark Johnston’s runners have been running right to form and Newmarket is playing well to front-runners this weekend.

Communique will have to be on his mettle – this is a very competitive renewal, and there are at least three for horses making their listed debut who can go onto better things.

Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy have enjoyed a fine start to the season and the pair could take another good contest with Good Birthday in the Betfair Exchange Bet In-Play Handicap (2.25). He didn’t miss a beat last season apart from a midfield finish in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot when appearing not to be in love with the ten-furlong trip, and a fifth at the July Meeting when he was second last and widest in a race that appeared to favour those who were on the speed early and closer to the rail. That aside, he was third in the London Gold Cup, got the better of Desert Icon in the Silver Cup at Beverley and he ended the season with a fine third in the Cambridgeshire here when making a great deal of ground in the last furlong after being blocked coming out to the last furlong. He starts this season off the same mark of 98 and the rain that hit the track yesterday – taking the sting off the track – ought to have helped his chance too and he earns the vote over Sir Michael Stoute’s Davydenko who looks another fine four-year-old prospect.

There were too many promising horses in the Pretty Polly (3.00) to be confident about putting any horse up there. Alpen Rose’s third in the May Hill is the best form and she was so desperately tempting, but it looks a race for the notebook.

The Novice Stakes (4.45) sees the return of Eastern World, King Leonidas, and Bullfinch although there are so many well-bred newcomers – especially Star Of Wins – that one couldn’t possibly recommend a bet in that race – the same is true of the second division (5.20).

There are no bets recommended at Haydock, given the rain that’s fallen there over the past two days, but it is a tremendous card with high quality renewals of the Pinnacle Stakes (2.05, with Fanny Logan, Manuela De Vega and Vivionn making their reappearances), the Brigader Gerard (2.40, Elarqam, Lord, Telecaster, Sangarius, and King Ottokar) and the Spring Trophy (Space Blues and Space Voyage).

Juvenile Watch:

Mark Johnston had yet another juvenile winner – his fourth of the season so far – with Thunder Of Niagara proving to be ultra-professional when asked to go about his business two furlongs from home, showing a sharp turn of foot to get the better of Rebel At Dawn (Karl Burke/Ben Curtis), and the running on Third Kingdom (John Gosden/Robert Havlin).

The winner is sure to head to Ascot, most likely for the Coventry, and the second will find a race before long, but the most eye-catching run came from Third Kingdom, who was backed into 6/4 on the morning of the race before making the slowest start of all and then being first off the bridle despite getting plenty of cover. Third Kingdom came home nicely and ought to improve plenty, with seven furlongs highly likely to suit. Captain Magnum was also scrubbed along early before making headway to finish fourth and maybe suited by another furlong too.

The EBF Novice Stakes was won in game style by Macho Pride (Ben Haslam/Harrison Shaw) who fought off Tantastic (Brian Ellison/Ben Robinson) and Mr Ryder (Michael Bell/Callum Lee). The winner was sharply away and reasonably placed, although he really found for pressure after Tantastic hit the front and Harrison Shaw deserved credit for a strong finish. The horse came caught the eye most was Mr Ryder, who was slow away early and struggled to match the early pace before finishing well down the far side/ he ought to improve a great deal for the experience and maybe also for another furlong could make it pay to follow him in the near future.

Selected (Richard Fashey/Tony Hamilton) was even slower away and even more green, and needs another run, whilst Identified (the 8/15 favourite for Archie Watson and Danny Tudhope) blew the start and can have this run written off.

At Lingfield, Undertake (Roger Varian/Jack Mitchell) got the better of a sustained scrap with Caroline Dale (David Loughnane/Luke Morris) in gritty fashion, diving down the inside and snatching the contest in the last half furlong; As said yesterday, she will be better with extra distance but the Albany at Ascot would be a realistic target given how well she finished.

The race’s big eye-catcher was another Alan King juvenile, with Dromquinna struggling to lay up early before taking a spot behind the leaders, getting outpaced around the turn and then running on well to take third, finishing no less than a length behind the winner. An extra furlong would suit and so would a straight track; He’s the second well priced horse from the King yard to make an eye-catching late finish in a week’s racing.

In terms of today’s action, we start at Newmarket with a typically good looking maiden (1.15). Godolphin have four contenders, all of whom are leading the market at the time of writing. The best bred of whom on paper would be Noble Dynasty (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), a half-brother to Barney Roy (and also other mile winners Widsom Mind and also Thames River). It would be no surprise if he went off favourite but it feels very notable that Appleby also runs Shamardal colt Modern News, who has the mount of Mickael Barzalona (set to ride Raffle Prize in 1,000 Guineas).]

The first colours of Godolphin are carried by Barber Of Seville (John Gosden/David Egan), out of a juvenile winner at 6 furlongs and a half-brother to another pair of winners at 2, and then last but never least, the first Saeed Bin Suroor juvenile of the season – Future Vision, a half-brother to the Dewhurst winner Teofilo.

They will take much of the attention but Roger Varian’s pairing of Haseef (out of group placed Silver Shoon) and Imperial Yellow (half-sister to winners at 6f and 7f), John Gosden’s second runner Rainbow Fire (brother to a listed two-year-old winner) and the Richard Hannon pairing of Cooperation (Ryan Moore ridden half-brother to three winners with RPR’s of 100+) and Burristo (son of Buratino) will all be interesting.

Paul and Oliver Cole had a 20/1 winner here earlier with Valpolicella so Gleneagles colt Gordonstoun has to be respected.

Haydock’s first juvenile race of the season (3.50) has the look of another good contest with John Gosden and Godolphin teaming up again as Sarsaparilla, a daughter of dual Commonwealh Cup winning sire Showcasing, is sure to be popular.

Mark Johnston and Franny Norton team up again with Monza City, a sister to Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso, and it’s likely these two will lead the market although William Haggas has Golden Melody here (James Doyle), a half-sister to four winners. Tom Dascombe has already had a juvenile winner in the shape of Adaay Dream so the well related Scarlet Bear needs respecting.

Last but not least, Lingfield has an extremely classy contest to open the card (1.05) with several blue blooded fillies, many of whom will be looking to big targets if they run well here. Archie Watson runs two, with Hollie Doyle’s mount You’ve Charmed Me (a Charm Spirit filly out of the US Stakes placed Eastern Lily) sure to be well supported whilst Perfect Dream (Oasis Dream filly out of Listed winner Jane’s Memory, ridden by Adam McNamara) won’t be far away in the market either.

The Mark Johnston representative Sands Of Time – a daughter of Bobby’s Kitten by the Queen Mary second and Prix d’Arenburg winner Starlit Sands – is one of the better bred newcomers he’s given a debut to and Isabella Swan (Clive Cox/Hector Crouch) is bred to make hay early.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)
BACK Boomer 1 pt each/way in 3.35 Newmarket at 12/1 with
BACK Communique 2 pts win in 1.50 Newmarket at 15/8 with
BACK Good Birthday 1 pt win in 2.25 Newmarket at 5/2 with

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