Five horses To Take Out Of Newmarket’s Guineas Meeting
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Racing journalist Gavin Beech looks back at Newmarket's Guineas meeting and picks out five horses to note for the rest of the flat season.
1. Dramatised Demonstrates Queen Mary Credentials
One of the most memorable performances of the entire three-day meeting came in the very first race on the opening day. Morning market moves had suggested there was some confidence behind the Karl Burke-trained newcomer Dramatised who was eventually sent off 9/4 favourite with betting sites for the fillies’ maiden.
Despite missing half a beat at the start, the homebred daughter of Showcasing was soon to the fore, travelling powerfully under Danny Tudhope. Although she understandably looked a bit green when her rider first asked her to go and put the race to bed, she stretched away in taking fashion through the final furlong.
The way she stamped her authority on what are likely to have been a useful set of rivals strongly suggests that she is a filly that can go to the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot with realistic claims - she’s already 5/1 second favourite with UK bookmakers.
Evidently blessed with stacks of natural speed, she very much looks a filly to keep on the right side of wherever she turns up in the short term.
2. Truth a Commonwealth Cup Contender
Noble Truth looks a bit of a handful in truth. However, he’s a talented horse if connections can harness that ability in the right way, as they did on Friday when the three-year-old bolted up in the Listed King Charles II Stakes.
Having been nursed to the start expertly by William Buick, Noble Truth saw out that seven-furlong trip well and was never for catching having led the field a merry dance from the outset, but the exuberant way this son of Kingman races strongly suggests he might just be even better back over a stiff six furlongs.
Noble Truth has improvement to make if he’s to land a top-level prize but he went close in the Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp last year (only collared late on) and there is a real possibility that he could be a revelation back over six furlongs, where he would be extremely tough to reel in.
As things stand, the Jersey Stakes looks his most likely big-race target but that’s not a Group 1 race and a stiff seven furlongs might just make him vulnerable. If this horse is ever going to win a Group 1 prize, the Commonwealth Cup might just be his best chance.
3. Turntable Can Make Amends Soon
Saturday’s 1m1f Heritage Handicap threw up a shock result in the shape of Cap Francais, who was sent off at 22/1 with horse racing betting sites but runner-up Turntable looks the one to take out of the race.
Turntable, having his first start since September, was weak in the betting and was ridden like a horse whose priorities were further down the line. Still last two out but travelling well, Hollie Doyle began to make progress widest of all as her rivals began to toil.
If Turntable hadn’t got unbalanced and lost momentum coming out of the dip then he would very likely have won given the way he finished his race and connections will surely be delighted with that return.
That run should put Turntable spot on for a return to the Rowley Mile in a couple of weeks where he would be a strong contender for the 1m handicap he won last year despite being much higher in the weights now.
Chris Wall rarely has his runners revved up for their first start of the season so this was a particularly encouraging return from the 6-year-old who looks to add to his three Newmarket wins (two on the Rowley Mile, the other on the July Course).
4. Eydon Looks Ideal Type For French Derby
Godolphin dominated the Qipco 2,000 Guineas but Eydon really caught the eye back in fourth despite being an unconsidered 33/1 chance with the bookies.
Eydon, a magnificent-looking son of Olden Times, looks like a Group 1 performer off the track and now we know he’s a top-level performer on the track because his effort in fourth strongly suggested a better performance was entirely possible under slightly different conditions.
Those conditions would be a step up to 10 furlongs and on-ground slightly less lively which is exactly why the Prix du Jockey Club fits the bill. Eydon travelled like a colt who belonged at the top level but was done for speed when the taps were turned on.
Connections are apparently considering a tilt at the Epsom Derby which confirms that they believe his future lies over middle distances, but it will be a surprise if they don’t see this colt as more of a French Derby horse given he appears to have more than enough gears to get a good position in that race.
Owner Prince Faisal teamed up with jockey David Egan to win that race with Mishriff in 2020 and connections appear to have a great opportunity to strike at Chantilly again.
Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
5. Don’t Give Up On Zellie Just Yet
Ground conditions at Newmarket were surely the undoing of French raider Zellie whose 1,000 Guineas fourth was a very decent effort in the circumstances. Zellie stuck to her task really well and put in some strong late work having been off the bridle a long way out.
Quick conditions on the Rowley Mile really took this filly out of her comfort zone but there is no doubt that she showed enough to think that she can add to her Group 1 haul when getting on some easier ground.
The way she finished her Guineas race suggests she would handle going up in trip for the Prix de Diane but her master trainer felt last year that a mile would be her optimum trip so don’t be surprised if she sticks to that trip.
If connections are happy that she has come out of Newmarket fine, then she may well take her chance in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas) in mid-May, where she may well likely renew rivalry with Newmarket heroine Cachet.
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