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The second day at Doncaster, and the meeting is gradually moving through the gears in terms of class and the quality steps up remarkably as we gather pace towards Camelot’s bid for the elusive Triple Crown for the Coolmore family on Saturday.
A good mix on Thursday, and the opener is a typical race that I did alright with at York’s meeting, a trappy minefield of a handicap, twenty runners, but the one going the right way is ANNECDOTE for Jonathan Portman and JP Fahy. The filly finished second in a maiden behind Maureen, beaten two lengths, before dispatching another Hughes/Hannon runner in the form of the 82 rated Botanica snugly last time out at Salisbury. The filly has been given a mark of 79, which seems to be very lenient, and she looks the one who has turned out to be on the handicappers good side.
The Sceptre Stakes is a fillies group three, that looks a very open affair, with several fillies in the field that have already acquired that elusive black type, and will have them seeking out a certain Galileo et al, to be covered in glory, pardon the pun. Gamilati won twice for Godolphin in Meydan, but looked laboured when behind Regal Realm and Inetrobil at Goodwood. Sunday Times, Miss Work of Art and Bonnie Brae are all 100+ rated fillies, but it usually pays to follow the unexposed filly on the up. That profile certainly fits SENTARIL who was an unlucky second behind Ishvana at Royal Ascot, before flopping at York last time out, but she did have the likes of Producer, Aljamaaheer and Lethal Force, Bannock and Sovereign Debt in behind her that day, and rated 105, she sets a solid standard. Perfect Step fits the criteria for Roger Varian, behind Sovereign Debt two starts ago, but on that form line has work to do with Sentaril.
The £300,000 sales race is an absolute maze. If you back the winner in this, you really should treat yourself to a nice cup of tea, and an extra-large slice of cake. Flyman goes for the Fahey and Hanagan team and has apparently been working well at home. As has The Gold Cheongsam for Jeremy Noseda, that has been punted into a disgustingly short priced favourite. Ballydoyle won this last year with Reply, and have Group placed Parliament Square for them, but giving weight all round and the not so boy wonder Joseph on board, he isn’t for me. The one I like is HOTOTO who won the big sales races at York, and has form with another I fancy tomorrow Hoyam. He was an impressive winner at York, and has good form back to Royal Ascot. His trainer pinpoints these big sales races, and rated 102, he is rated only second behind Parliament Square, he looks a decent bit of value and has gone relatively unnoticed.
I have been sweet on ESTIMATE for a while now, backing her at Ascot and York, and although she tasted defeat last time out, she was by no way disgraced. She got tired in the final strides, but as a three year old filly she will be improving at a rate of knots, and beaten three lengths by Wild Coco that day, she now gets 12lb from the four year old through weight for age, although Sir Henry Cecil’s filly is entitled to come on for the run as well. A flat track like Doncaster should eek more improvement out of Her Majesty, and once again this year it will be hat’s off for the Queen!
I ear-marked a couple when seeing the preliminary declarations for this, and Cape of Hope was one, but I had no idea he would be so short in the market, and at the prices, the exciting SPACE SHIP looks much better value for John Gosden and William Buick, who have an incredible record at the track, and in particular this season. A son of Galileo, out of a Grade 1 winning mare in America, he has a Racing Post Trophy entry, and should build on a solid debut when fourth at Sandown.
Prodigality was going to be a warm favourite before being declared a late non-runner, which presumably gives him a thumbs up for The Portland handicap later on in the week. That opens the door for ELUSIVE FLAME for Dominic Elsworth and William Buick, who is a progressive three year old filly, who although is at a career high mark of 88, is progressing nicely in those famous J Smith silks. She won a nursery at this meeting last year, and has been going the right way, starting the season on a mark of 85, holding her form well, racing exclusively over seven furlongs, but the manner of her run last time out indicated she may want to drop down to six. Sohraab and Goldream are respected for shrewd connections.
The final handicap looks another tricky affair but the manner in which TRADE STORM won against a strong field at York indicates he is a very smart colt indeed. The four year old son of Trade Fair came with a good turn of foot, and if he reproduces that on Town Moor he should be hard to beat, despite a 6lb rise, he has won at the track before in a conditions race as a three year old over seven furlongs.
1.15 Doncaster – Annecdote
1.50 Doncaster – Sentaril
2.20 Doncaster – Hototo
2.55 Doncaster – Estimate (Nap)
3.30 Doncaster – Space Ship
4.05 Doncaster – Elusive Flame
4.35 Doncaster – Trade Storm
The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner
Follow me on Twitter - @JJMSports
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