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GRAEME RODWAY |
Weblog: On the Ten To Follow trail
Starspangled royal week puts shine back on to list
This comes a week late but moving is time consuming and I didn't get time to update last week as a result. However, betterlate than never and what a starspangled week we had at Royal Ascot. From a punting point of view it could barely have been better, and from a ten to follow point of view it was also pretty good, with Starspangledbanner bagging my first 50-point bonus race of the season.
I'm not usually one to row in with the hype horses from overseas, but after the success of Haradasun at the royal meeting a few years back I have learned to sit up and take note when Michael Tabor brings one of his Aussie imports to Ballydoyle.
Aidan O'Brien was lavish in his praise for the four-year-old afterwards, suggesting that he was the fastest thing he had ever seen on the gallops, and if he can find further progression from this run the JulyCup should be a formality. However, O'Brien is always glowing with praise for his runners, remember this is a business first for his owners, and just how much we can take as gospel has to be open to question.
Elsewhere, those who havethe Canford express can sit back and get out their cigar as Richard Hannon's star miler bagged another 50 points with an easy victory in the St James's Palace Stakes. He really has turned out to be better than anyone could have expected (bar Richard Hannon and team), and wherever he goes next he is going to take the world of beating, even if it is against the older horses. He has 79 points on the board already and he looks a good thing to break the all-important 100-point barrier.
Siyouni was flying flag Rodway in that race but after a fair, but unspectacular fourth place I'm not holding my breath for any points from my only French inclusion. Let's hope that trainer, Alain de Royer-Dupre, does the sensible thing and drops him in grade, then maybe he could rack up a couple of small races in France before stepping back up in class later in the season. Here's hoping.
Earlier in the day Rip Van Winkle was trounced by superstar filly Goldikova in the Queen Anne Stakes. I wasn't too disheartened with the performance of Aidan O'Brien's four-year-old, as he will almost certainly come on plenty for the run; however, I would have liked to have seen a more promising effort and third would have been more encouraging.
Still, I've missed the boat on Goldikova. I was pretty sure she would be lightly raced with a Breeders' Cup campaign in mind but I could not have been further wrong and full credit to trainer Freddie Head, who has bagged two Group 1's with her already this term.
Fencing Master was exposed as very ordinary in the Hampton Court Stakes and he is one Aidan O'Brien runner who has regressed from his promising seventh in the 2,000 Guineas earlier this year. Nil point looks on the agenda for him.
The same can be said of Mister Manannan, who I took a gamble on but that has not paid off and David Nicholls' sprinter is definitely below the top class. Maybe he can bounce back later in the season when dropped in grade, but I fear another pointless selection.
Pollenator has not trained on and after her 17th (yes 17th) in the Sandringham Handicap she can definitely be put down as a zero pointer. It would not surprise me if Richard Hannon retired her.
Onwards and upwards to the Coral-Eclipse this weekend and those who have Twice Over will be hoping to bag the 50. However, I've never been convinced by him and in a weak renewal - which isworld's apart from last season's Sea The Stars and Rip Van Winkle clash - it would not surprise me to see an upset. Hopefully it will come in the form of Mawatheeq, who I have snapped up some 6-1 about and still looks the value option in the race.
Ten To Follow:
Awzaan
Elusive Pimpernel
Fame And Glory - 65
Fencing Master
Mister Manannan
Pollenator
Rip Van Winkle
Siyouni
St Nicholas Abbey
Starspangledbanner - 57
TOTAL: 122
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