A mile maiden for three year olds, it looks a fair standard of contest with a number of these looking of note for later in the season once they go handicapping.
IN SUMMARY: The Hamadan Al Maktoum pair Alqalsar and Alwahsh top the market but neither of them set an exacting standard given their prices in the market. Saeed bin Suroor has both a smart strike rate at the track and when teaming up with Josephine Gordon and his ARABIC CULTURE is well thought of at home, boasting breeding that suggests that he will be well up to winning a maiden on his debut in the same way his dam and two half siblings did. Khataaf looks best of those at a slightly bigger price.
1 TYROLEAN – NON RUNNER
2 ALQALSAR – Made his debut in a maiden at Newbury which is working out quite well with the winner finishing a close third in a Listed race at Newmarket and the second & fourth both winning next time out. He improved on that run with a second at the same track last month, bare form of that race isn’t great with the winner and third being beaten next time, but there should be more to come from him back over a mile.
3 ALWAHSH – The form of his fourth last time out is working out well with the three that beat him all winning subsequently. He faded inside the last couple of furlongs that day over the 10f trip so this drop back to a mile should suit. William Haggas’ stable are in good form and this looks a good opportunity to get off the mark with first time cheek pieces applied today.
4 ARABIC CULTURE – A very interesting newcomer for Saeed bin Suroor with Josephine Gordon taking the ride (the pair have a 43% strike rate when teaming up in the last 12 months). By Lonhro out of a mare rated 95, he is a half brother to three winners and the trainer has 3 wins from 5 runners at this track in the last 12 months, one to note and could be a big player on debut.
5 BOMBERO – Has struggled in his two starts to date, including over course and distance on debut. Both of those runs were on ground with a bit of ease and with any luck this slightly sounder surface should be more to his liking. He will need to find significant improvement though from what he’s shown so far to land a blow on some nicely bred rivals here.
6 BRINGIT – This Holy Roman Emperor gelding should know more following his debut where he was slowly away. Will need to leave the bare form of that run well behind to be involved here, but there is no reason why he can’t do that so shouldn’t be discounted.
7 DECISION MAKER – This looks a tough assignment on debut but he is by a top class sire in Iffraaj and is a half brother to 4 winners. Dam won a handicap off a mark of 82 so on paper this gelding could have plenty of ability, but will need it against rivals that have racecourse experience. Yard isn’t in great form and he is best watched here.
8 KHATAAF – By no means disgraced on his debut at Yarmouth, but will need to improve on that to compete with a few more experienced rivals here. He may well need further in time given that his dam won over 1m6f but that shouldn’t mean he won’t be effective over a mile. Stable is operating at a 29% strike rate with three year olds this season and on that basis can’t be dismissed. Tongue Tie is reached for on just second start which is interesting.
9 MIRIMAR – Was sent off 100/1 on debut at Chelmsford back in December but showed a little encouragement and was 7/4 favourite on his second run at Southwell in January but couldn’t land a blow. This looks much tougher and it’s hard to see him being up to the standard of some of these.
10 PIONEERTOWN – Has started life in a couple of decent All Weather maidens but was unable to get competitive in either. Step up in trip should suit given his pedigree, but may still need further. Trainer 3 from 27 here in the last 5 years and it would be surprising if he was involved at the business end.
11 RED BORDEAUX – Only had the one start for Tony Carroll last year where he finished last of 9 at Leicester. Plenty of winners have come out of the race but even so, a few of these could be a cut above. Has been gelded over the winter but trainer has struggled with three year olds on turf so far this season.
12 SUKOOT – The last of four runners in the race for Hamdan Al Maktoum. This Sir Prancelot gelding cost £60,000 and his dam was a dual winner over 7f. Whether this trip will stretch his stamina a little is an unknown but he’s one to watch in the market given his connections.
13 SWAFFHAM BULBECK – A second runner in the race for Ed Vaughan, by Jeremy who is the sire of many high class horses including multiple Group 3 winner Success Days. Dam was a winner over 12f so a starting trip of a mile should be fine and is worth a market check on debut.
14 WOLFCATCHERJACK – Bred to be more of a stayer so his efforts over 7f in his last two starts aren’t to be taken too literally, but both RPRs being in the 30s don’t offer much encouragment. Behind Tyrolean and Pioneertown on latter start so has a bit to find and chances are this still won’t be a stiff enough test.
15 WOOTYHOOT – Ran green on turf debut at Windsor in May so a hood is reached for here, that was his first run of the season though so he should come on for it. Better run at Kempton on sole start as a two year old but even a reproduction of that effort is unlikely to be good enough here.
16 SANGUINE – Well bred by Tamayuz out of a dam who was a dual winner over 6f, wears a hood on debut so may not be the most straightforward. Yard is struggling so far this season with just 2 wins and being the sole filly in the field could find herself out of her depth at this stage of her career against the opposite sex.