The best bet of a competitive weekend of solid group racing, spread across three countries, at the Curragh in Ireland with unbeaten Maybe running in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, at Longchamp and Deauville in France, and at Newmarket and Goodwood in England, with the highlight being the Betfair Celebration Mile, a race that is seen as prelude to the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day in October.
Starting with the Celebration Mile, the clear and outstanding horse on form, merit and record is the Godolphin horse POET'S VOICE, who bids to give Frankie Dettori back to back victories on the four year old colt, and continue the stables sensational form. The stable led Opinion Poll to successful back to back victories of Opinion Poll last week, and it seems the stable are hitting peak form, with Blue Bunting winning the Yorkshire Oaks and Blue Harbour in the Melrose Handicap, both at York, reinforced the form, and given Poet's Voice is clearly a group one horse, he is in a different league to these rivals, and providing the team have him cherry ripe, he should win on the snaff.
Another perceived banker of Saturday is DRUNKEN SAILOR for in form Kieren Fallon and trainer Luca Cumani. The gelded son of Tendulkar was fortunate to win over a mile and a half at Goodwood in the Group 3 Glorious Stakes, when fortunate to receive a Fallon special, getting up the inside rail and squeezing his way through to get up on the line. That was in conditions against the proven stayer, who has creditable efforts in the Melbourne Cup and the Northumberland Plate to his name, races over two miles. The Windflower March Stakes is a Listed race over 1 mile 6 furlongs, which is another step in Drunken Sailor having another crack at 'The race that stops a nation', and although he has to give 10lb in weight for age allowance to the Sir Mark Prescott trained Motrice, with Fallon in form, and conditions to suit, he is another in the banker category for Saturday.
Trainer James Fanshawe has experienced something of a reneisance of praise and adulation ever since his double at Royal Ascot including Prohibit in the Kings Stand Stakes, and 'The Skeleton' can celebrate another double, with two very promising runners in back to back races at Newmarket. The first is tough and consistent sprtiner MAC'S POWER, who aims to finally get his nose in front, in what can only be described as a frustating season. Since his seasonal reappearance, he finished a disappointing 7th at Royal Ascot, before good runs in Class Two handicaps at Ascot and Goodwood, finishing third in both races. There should be more to come from the gelding, and if he were to get just a smidgen of luck in running, he has the potential to be very dangerous.
Fanshawe's other chance will also have stable jockey Pat Cosgrave on board and is recent maiden winner HIGH JINX, who is thrown into a handicap for the first time, and has been given a very leniant mark from the assessor. The well bred son of High Chapparal looked to banish worries of greeness when winning a good maiden at Doncaster by 5 lengths. Four horses down the race have since come out and won, the most notable of which being Wayward Glance, running a creditable fifth in the Melrose Handicap at York last week. High Jinx ran well behind future superstar Mijhaar, finishing third that day, and the form has once again been backed up. Although a tough handicap, with horses such as Ittrad of Roger Varian and Haylaman of Ed Dunlop being dangerous, High Jinx has infinite potential and the handicapper has to be punished for giving us a rare chance!
2.15 Goodwood - Drunken Sailor (Nap)
3.20 Goodwood - Poet's Voice
3.30 Newmarket - Mac's Power
4.00 Newmarket - High Jinx (Ew)
The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner
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