Classic contenders ready to lift the spirits
WHEN racing returns in this part of the world, what can we look forward to?
Well, we should find out whether the best two-year-old since Frankel (and possibly including him, too) in Pinatubo can carry his overwhelming dominance through to his second season. I have my doubts, but he does have some head start on his contemporaries, rated 130 on time and with no other Guineas candidate rated above 119.
It will be interesting to see if the old saying “the 2000 Guineas is the final race of the previous year’s two-year-old season” bears out when it will be run nearly a month later if not more.
Quadrilateral is seeing a bit of action in the ante-post market for the 1000 Guineas, but she was little, if at all, ahead of her contemporaries at two (110 time rating) and it may be worth looking elsewhere.
I have not given up on 104-rated Cloak Of Spirits (Richard Hannon) getting a mile better and fulfilling her early promise with more time under her belt.
It remains to be seen whether Irish-trained horses will travel to Newmarket. I reckon Wichita (119) could have a good race in him this year after he finished third to Pinatubo in the Dewhurst despite the ground possibly being too soft (was later withdrawn in France on heavy). Siskin (111) looks like getting a mile, also, but has a bit more to prove in my book.
Opinion is divided on whether Albigna will be a Guineas type or an Oaks type. I favour the latter based on striding, though it has to be said the Marcel Boussac she won with a 107 sectional rating was not the strongest.
Domino Darling is another Oaks type, though much less experienced.
France looks like winning the race to stage the first of the European Guineas, with the Lagardere winner Victor Ludorum (rated 117) the favourite for the colts’ version over another unbeaten Godolphin runner in Earthlight (119, but I think he will prove to be a sprinter).
Keep an eye out for 120-rated Helter Skelter, who was fastest of all late on in the Lagardere and who had run blistering late splits in winning the time before. (runs on Monday in France)
The Autumn Stakes winner Military March (rated 118) is top of my list for the Derby, though it is possible that the entire field will be reappearing when that comes to be run.
Any year in which Enable (130), Logician (126) and Battaash (134) appear again, however truncated that season proves to be, is one to look forward to.
We all need something to lift the spirits after what we have been through, and, sad to say, what we are still likely to go through. Stay safe.