Doncaster Friday
CONDITIONS proved too quick for a few at Town Moor yesterday, notably Dee Ex Bee, who was a late withdrawal from the Doncaster Cup, depriving racegoers of the fourth consecutive clash between the long-striding stayer and champion Stradivarius.
John Gosden’s millionaire horse was left to stroll home from pacemaking Cleonte (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy) who had to press on entering the home turn to bring his own stamina into play, and that merely stopped the contest descending into farce, which was the only scenario in which the 1/9 favourite was going to come unstuck.
Max Dynamite (Willie Mullins/Ryan Moore) was the only other one able to go with Cleonte when he kicked, and plugged on for third, two and a half lengths behind the runner-up, who himself was one and three-quarter lengths adrift of the imperious winner.
Metronomic
There is nothing new to say about Stradivarius, who is never taken for granted by his rider, and is expertly handled by his trainer. He is best described as metronomic, always turning up at the right pitch, and producing his effort in exactly the same manner every time, no doubt prolonging his career by doing so, and saving a little for himself.
He’s not quite reached the levels of adulation enjoyed by seven-time Royal Ascot winner Brown Jack, possibly the most popular horse with the race-going public in flat racing history, but he shares a number of similarities with that legendary character, and the more he comes back to greet his fans, the more he will grow in their affection.
Look cements great season for Williams
BREATHTAKING Look may have been a shock winner to some in the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Stakes, but the daughter of Bated Breath has been improving quietly all season for Stuart Williams. She was always well placed under Jim Crowley, going into a clear lead before the field had gone a furlong, and gradually winding things up to run out a decisive winner from Preening (James Fanshawe/William Buick) and Mot Juste (Roger Varian/Andrea Atzeni).
It certainly helped the winner to be able to control the pace, but others who were handy didn’t see it out nearly so well, and the fact remains that in a messy division, she is improving as others have stalled. The fact that every bookmaker in the market made novice winner Farzeen favourite overnight shows that the expectation was for an improving filly . They just picked the wrong one.
Breathtaking Look is a four-year-old, and not where most people look when seeking out unexposed types for races like this, but this big, rangy sort possesses more physical scope than most, and as a result of her size, was only able to make her racecourse debut less than a year ago. Since showing promise amid greenness on her debut, she has improved almost by the run, with just one minor blip at Newmarket in July.
Winning trainer Williams explained: “We decided that as she was up in the 90s, we’d have a go at some blacktype; if there had been a seven-furlong listed race somewhere for her I’d have run her in that, but I couldn’t find one, so we decided to come here. Jim rode her perfectly. I think she’s quite a high-class filly and she’ll improve again. I don’t know at this stage if she’ll stay in training next year or be retired – her owner is a breeder.” This is becoming a best season ever for Stuart Williams, who has trained over 50 winners.
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SIMON Crisford has a very tough and fast juvenile in A’Ali, and while this neat little colt doesn’t really appeal as able to maintain his progress as a three-year-old, he has done his connections proud this year, his only low-note a non-staying performance in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville last month.
Dropped back to the trip over which he’d won the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, he had just too much for the fast-finishing Dream Shot (James Tate/P J McDonald) and the front-running Wheels On Fire (Danny Tudhope), who was making an excellent debut for Aidan Fogarty after a move from Matthieu Palussiere in France. Only a nose separated second and third, with A’Ali a length to the good at the line.
Connections of the winner plan to keep him to five furlongs, with all roads leading to Santa Anita on the first weekend in November, as Simon Crisford explained: “He really deserved that, he travelled superbly well and finished off nicely. He’s already won a win-and-you’re-in ticket to the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. I think a sharp five furlongs in California will definitely suit.”
The Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes saw all five in a line with just over a furlong to run, but with talking horse Visinari weakening tamely, it was left to Roger Varian’s Convivial Maiden Stakes winner Molatham to give Jim Crowley a double.
In beating Aidan O’Brien’s Wichita by half a length, he was paying a handsome compliment to his Ascot conqueror Mums Tipple, as well as providing his promising sire Night Of Thunder with another notch on his belt.