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Hungarians, Greeks or whatever – the fact is that its been a while since any country in Europe had a truly great international sprinter.
They might look like champions when they are racing against their local second-raters, but can they stand up to the pressure in an international group 1 such as the Golden Jubilee if the non-European champions turn up?I have yet to be convinced. Those guys rushing to take short odds about Overdose etc should wait, there will be some changes to the market before the big race – old Takeover Target is there and Sacred Kingdom flew out of Hong Kong today. Unfortunately, there is no direct flight to Britain, so he will land in France and – would you believe it – will have to take a boat to Blimey.
But from what we have seen of your sprinters in Asia in the last four or fiveyears, he will still be too good if he is even 90% fit.
Nemaluk, Overdose is out of the race through injury.
I agree with your point. In the HK Carnival etc sprinters from Europe have found it very hard to do well. However, we have to take into account that the horses that do travel to your neck of the woods have had a whole season of top class sprinting before they come over. Whereas your sprinters are just starting their season in December.
The Aussies, however, do a fantastic job to win over here at this point in the season.
I like Amour Propre for this one. I might be a little biased because i backed him LTO, even when he was drifting. I just like this hoses attitude, i think he can keep it up in this kinda company and there’s more to come from him imo. I like to keep it simple.
I’m hoping Ialysus runs in both and wins both! But that would be a tall order I suppose. Then if he won the July Cup…..
Borderlescott: Never run a bad race, and proved himself better than ever last year when campaigned mainly at this trip, winning the Nunthorpe and placed in Temple and the Abbaye; Ran good race when 3rd in temple on what was probably unsuitably heavy ground; However was beaten fair and square by Look Busy, but trainer expects him to be better than that and will get required lead here, so looks like a soild place option if running to best.
Cannonball: One of what will be many runners for US Based Wesley Ward at this meeting; Although he may not boast a string of stakes race wins like his Aussie and far eastern rivals he’s young, progressive and registered some blistering early fractions when runner-up in the Shakertown Stakes, one of America’s leading sprint contests run on turf; Would looks to have a bit of ground to make up, but threat if leading from the front.
Captain Gerrard: Looked set for big things when winning Place House in really good style at Newmakret last year; Creditable 4th behind Marchand D’Or; But then disappointed and has never been same since.
Dandy Man: Is a high class sprinters on his day, and has often not had the rub of the green but he ran out of excuses last year and folded tamely in Palace House on return under seemingly ideal conditions; Disappointed again last time and might be losing his way now.
Equiano: Looked promising when finishing 2nd to Marchand D’Or in Prix Du Gros Chene; Confirmed that with good victory in King’s Stand Stakes; 4th to Borderlescott next time out, and could never get into the L’Abbaye at the back end; 6f seemed to stretch him in good Listed contest on his reappearance and same story in Duke Of York, where he was disappointing, and looked to be going backwards based on 9th behind Tax Free in Prix Du Gros Chene
Fullandby: Perfectly decent sprint handicapper, with big placed efforts behind Evens And Odds and Chief Editor off 102 and 100; Looked to be going somewhere when just failing to get up past Excuses Moi, but 7th in listed race behind Iylasos leaves him with too much to find for my liking.
Iyalsos: Unbeaten so far in his career, all but one of those having been on sand in Greece; Showed he’s capable of running in Group & Listed company when running down Anglesarke and Hoh Hoh Hoh to win the Achilles Stakes in testing ground at Haydock last time out; Clearly capable of good form judged on that, and there should be more to come, but looks outclassed against world’s best.
Mythical Flight: Been working his way up sprinting ranks with remarkable progress in South Africa, going on a 8 win unbeaten run, starting with a listed win before taking Group 3 Lebelo Handicap, before putting in a then career – best to take 1st of his 2 Grade 1’s in Graham Beck Wines Cape Flying Championship, before giving an easy beating to Mocha Java (same horse he defeated in his 1’st Grade 1 victory), before beating Rebel King easily to take his 2nd Grade 1 in the Comptuaform Sprint; Things not gone so well since, paying the price for his win when unable to give 5lbs and losing out by a neck to Kildonan, before simply coming up against a better horse in War Artist; Slightly disappointing when beaten at 1/7 in Mercury Sprint, and then put in repeatable effort behind O Caesur in Graham Beck Championship (he won a year ago), finishing 2nd behind O Caesur; Pitched into top company soon after that, but put in only respectable efforts (might not have been at best) when 7th behind Inspiration and 6th behind Sacred Kingdom in Krisflyer; Needs to do better on toughest stage yet.
Scenic Blast: Looked to be going nowhere after flopping big time when 11th of 12 behind Weekend Hussler in the Mesmie Stakes; Back on track with an handicap win and found new lease of life when sent sprinting, building on handicap second with surprise win in Lighting Stakes at 20/1, beating off decent competion including Weekend Hussler (beaten favourite) , before killing his chances in Oakleigh Handicap with slow break; Much better in Crown Handicap last time, reversing form with Swiss Ace (3lbs better off); Lot of ability and 9/2 a fair price, and while better sprinters have come over from Australia, must be respected.
Tax Free: Worst position is 4th in last 6 outings, underling his consistency over the last 2 seasons; Had been running well in Ireland until cracking 3rd in Temple Stakes at Haydock in what was one of many solid efforts last year; Jumped up to a new level when beating Equiano in cracking renewal of Abnenaunt stakes at Newmarket’s Craven meeting, before just running out of Stamina over a flying 6f at York in the Duke Of York stakes, and was seen right back to his best when landing Prix Du Gros Chene, beating High Class field in the Process; Showed he can mix it with best, and does look e/w value.
Wi Dud: Always been a decent performer in Group and Heritage Handicap company; Off the back of a cracking 3rd against some Group class sprinters in the Temple Stakes, and a nice draw to benefit him, looked to have a cracking chance off a mark of 100, leaving him 5lbs well in when tackling Investec “Dash” at Epsom; Sent off 5/1 and disappointed slight after showing good early speed to fade into 7th; More than that needed here.
Fleeting Sprit: Followed up a good win in the Flying Childers with a cracking 2nd to Natagora in the Cheveley Parks stakes to round of good 2 yr old season; Returned with a bang to land Temple Stakes in new course record to kick off 3 yr old season, and was subsequently sent off 15/8 to land this last year, before finishing a good 3rd in the King’s Stand; May have found softish ground against her when 5th to Marchand D’or in L’Abbaye, flowing that up with highly creditable 4th in Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint, going a furlong more than she has ever been, and handling a bend for the 1st time; Looks to have been set out to run a big race in this, and record fresh hold no worries (Won on debut, won on 3 yr old reappearance) , if returning to best form (may may well not have reached that level) surely holds big chance.
Armour Propre: Improved in leaps and bounds since disappointing 2 yr old debut at Sandown, beating useful types in Deposer and Lucky Leigh in maiden and novice stakes victories before topping that off with all the way win in Cornwallis stakes over course and Distance, breaking smartly to lead on the rail side duo, leading over a furlong out, and keeping on gamely to win by a neck from Waffle; Confirmed promise with good when in competitive renewal of Palace House Stakes at the Guineas meeting, being handle in the middle and speeding away at the line; Not telling how good he could be but yet to be tested like this.
Rivaeaulx World: Made a blistering start to life when winning 1st time up as a juvenile in his maiden auction stakes, making the most of his favourable inside draw, soon finishing himself in front and looking in command from some way out, coming home a comfortable winner; Marked himself out as good horse when building on that again with easier win in Nusery Handicap, smashing his field by 6 lengths; Put up good effort to finish 4th in Molecomb, before clearly needing run badly when 5/2 in conditions stakes at Warwick on reappearance, but stepped up on that no end when 6th in Place House, form of which has been given some good boosts , and was good 2nd behind Anglezarke last time out; Well held on that form.
Spin Cycle: Got the job done in gritty style on debut in Musselbrugh maiden, before putting in arguably career best effort in Norfolk Stakes, pushing South Central all the way; Slightly disappointing when 5th in Molcombe and career taken an downward turn after that, with unplaced efforts in Gimcrack (Run at Newbury) and Cornwallis; Made pleasing return showing nice speed to win a conditions stakes at Musselbrugh; But those formlines have him no better than Anglezarke.
Waffle: Hadn’t come in his coat and was a touch burley but he had a nice look about him and that was reflected in his performance when getting job done on debut in maiden stakes at Leicester; Went into Nusery company after that, his best effort in that company coming off a mark of 89 when 2nd to Mythical Blue; Raised his game by about 17lbs when 2nd to Armour Propre in Cronwallis, following it up with 2 decent efforts this year, one 7 lengths behind Anglezarke in York conditions stakes, and the other when beaten 1 and half lengths into second by Noble Storm in same company last time out; Looks held on those efforts in this company.
Angleszarke: Was the pick of the paddock in a race where nothing seemed keen to make the running and allowed to bowl along to record easy idling success on her debut; Seemed to need run when 4th in novice stakes and was back in winner spot again, when recording success in Nursery company, and has done nothing by perform commendably since; Next run was 6th behind Elnawin in big sales race, before putting in one of best efforts ever when 2nd to Madame Trop Vite in Flying Childers Stakes, before putting in really below par effort when 5th out of 7 in Ayr listed race; 4th in Cornwallis stakes was a nice effort as was reappearance win over Waffle and listed 2nd, but still has a lot to find.
Lucky Leigh: Made a very nice juvenile debut, travelling well just off the pace, going on over a furlong out and being pushed clear for nice, easy 4 and half length success; Followed that up with good 4th in Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, and looked below par when 5th in Cherry Hinton; Sent off 2/5 but cam up against one too good in Armour Propre in Bath novice stakes; Below par last run of Juvenile campaign, but it was an awful effort she put in last time and she runs at Sandown today.
VERDICT: Yet another cracking Group 1 sprint, with challengers from all parts of the world to make a fascinating contest. The Australian challenger Scenic Blast looks like a good Group 1 sprinter with a swooping late rattle, but he was fully entitled to revise form with Swiss Ice last time, and while he’s got a winning chance, I’m keen to take him on for the fact that Australia have sent better sprinters for this, and his come from behind style won’t exactly serve him well in this field. Armour Propre could still be anything, but he needs to step up considerably on what he’s done so far. That having been said, he should hold all the other British 3 yr olds, who wile being useful types, all look well held at this level. Mythical Flight looked like a top sprinter in the making, and may not be done improving yet, but he does have some ground to make up. Cannonball would need to be contesting Grade 1 sprints to have a realistic form chance, but he has shown remarkable speed in his starts so far, according to reports. WI Dud looked to be coming back to his best, but really speaking frankly, one would have wanted him to perform better when 5lbs well in on Derby day. Equiano just hasn’t really improved for the switch to Barry Hill’s yard. Hoh Hoh Hoh, Fullandby, Dandy Man (Seemed to have lost his way) and Captain Gerrard (Lost his from since winning Palace House Stakes) all look held by Iayalsos, who really caught the eye when taking the Achilles stakes on his British debut, and could well improve a bundle and run a huge race. He should have more to come, and coming from behind in soft ground can’t have been easy that day. However, there has to be a question whether he can do it against the world’s best. Borderlescott has never run a bad race, and is worth his place at this level, but this is a new tougher test for him. He should give it his all. Winners and the top 4 from the Prix Du Gros Chene have a great record, and with that in mind it may be worth putting an e/w bet on TAX FREE, who has been coinstent for the past 2-3 seasons, and looked as he could be about to join the Group 1 table when landing the Group 2 Prix Du Gros Chene. FLEETING SPRIT had the looks of a Group 1 horse when ahead of her injury, and the fact that the Noseda yard was souvenir under form (closed down soon afterwards) gives us more hope. One could of the opinion that she didn’t handle the soft ground on Arc day, and it was clear that 6f202 yds was a trip too fat around a bend in the BC Turf Sprint last time out. She goes well fresh, and she will have been laid out for this.Less is more OV. I can’t read that at all, sorry. Just a suggestion.
I don’t like Scenic Blast @ 1000m. They’ll need to go very strong at the front to bring him into contention IMO.
Wow, at least put some gaps between the paragraphs OV
I really like Fleeting Spirit. I still cant get away from the fact that she ran so well in this last year when the stable was going through a torrid time.
Cannonball is to be feared though.
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There’s no need for that, Myles, no need at all – separating paragraphs (especially when they all begin ‘name:’) is hardly rocket science.
Good stuff, Our Vic, it’s nice to see someone putting in a little bit of effort.
Just read one paragraph.
FLEETING
SPRIT
had the looks of a Group 1 horse when ahead of her injury, and the fact that the Noseda yard was
souvenir
under form (closed down soon afterwards) gives us more hope.
One could of the opinion
that she didn’t handle the
soft ground
on Arc day, and it was clear that 6f202 yds was a trip too
fat
around a bend in the BC Turf Sprint last time out
Was good to soft at the worst on Arc day, maybe even good.
Like MDeering says, it would definitely help if you wrote a lot less and put in gaps between paragraphs. Psychologically even gaps make it more appealling for people to read.
Although agree with Equitrack in that it’s nice to see someone putting in effort.
There’s no need for that, Myles, no need at all – separating paragraphs (especially when they all begin ‘name:’) is hardly rocket science.
Good stuff, Our Vic, it’s nice to see someone putting in a little bit of effort.
When did you last write anything original,with more than 10 lines? All you do is critiscise "Gordolphin"! Plonker!
Ialysos only won by a neck last time out but I dunno how many lengths headstart he gave them but to make all that ground back up was really impressive and that was his first start on turf, I can only think he will improve tremendously for that.
Amour Propre is the other I like, his reapperance last month was a joy to see him pound the more experienced horses, he is surely going to be a major player in all 5f sprints this year.
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What can I say, TAPK, you caught me – nothing I say is original, merely copied and pasted from respondtothemoronicallyselfimportant.com.
Perhaps if you put some effort in to forming reasoned opinions, rather than getting over excited at the slightest mention of either Aidan O’Brien or Dandy Nicholls, you might not come across as the egotistical no-mark you do.
I’ve backed Fleeting Spirit here. I’m not totally convinced with Amour Propre and don’t know how to evaluate the Aussie but I’m fairly sure FS is capable of a big run over this C and D when fresh. She was a lot shorter last year and was arguably disadvantaged by having put up a big run in the Temple Stakes beforehand.
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With Henry Candy praising Amour Propre to the high heavens he is difficult to oppose but this is not a race to be risking too much on
I have always like Borderlesscott and he is sure to run well
I watched Cannonball run in the usa and he looked like winning but didn’t handle the bend into the straight very well.
He’s up aganst it here but he looked like a straight course mich suit him better……40/1 could end up being spot on as far as his chance goes I think he could be better than most people think.
Small ew bet on each
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I’d love to see Borderlescott win this but, as his trainer pointed out on a recent Morning Line, it does take an awful lot to get him fit, and his capitulation to Look Busy lto suggests he might not be properly ready yet. An early one for the Nunthorpe again, maybe?
On a line through the same horse, Amour Propre is probably flattered by his Palace House win, and in any case, still has a mountain to climb.
Oddly enough, for exactly the same reason, Fleeting Spirit is possibly also flattered by her fto defeat of Borderlescott last season, and the proximity of short-runner Desert Lord adds to that question mark. She ran well enough in her subsequent races, though looked short of the pace to make a proper impression at this level and distance. No accident, imo. that she was stepped up to 7f for the Breeder’s Cup, and she’ll be more of a factor over 6 than 5.
For once I agree with ol’e bigmouth, that Tax Free has improved this season, but 5f on fast ground at this level will surely find him out, though he must have a good chance of a place.
All of which leaves me with Scenic Blast, (Not one for the xenophobes,
) who has top class form from a country not short of decent sprinters, and as a gp1 winner at both 5 & 6f on the easier Australian tracks, should find this stiff 5 right up his street.I think Dandy Man is being overlooked here and could be a good each-way bet at the 40/1 with totesport. This is his 4th run in this race having finished 4th, 2nd, 4th in the last 3 runnings. The draw went against him last year as well (he was drawn 14 with the first 3 being drawn 7,5,4). He also flopped badly in last years Temple Stakes before running well at Ascot so I’m prepared to forgive his first 2 races this year (probably to my cost!)
Incidentally in the RP card, why is Equiano only credited with separate "C" & "D" instead of "CD" for winning this race last year?
) who has top class form from a country not short of decent sprinters, and as a gp1 winner at both 5 & 6f on the easier Australian tracks, should find this stiff 5 right up his street.
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