Why Commonwealth Cup winner Time For Sandals can bounce back - plus Bow Echo not the only smart juvenile unleashed by George Boughey

Another Group horse in a handicap for Haggas?

William Haggas enjoyed an across-the-card five-timer on Saturday, kicked off by Crown Of Oaks’ impressive win in Ascot’s 1m2f handicap.

The Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy-owned three-year-old had left favourite backers fingers' burned with odds-on defeats in maidens at Newbury and Redcar this season, but he is now two from two since being gelded and tackling handicaps.

The son of Wootton Bassett ran out a three-quarter-length winner at Ayr in July and defied a 6lb rise in comfortable fashion at Ascot, pulling six and a half lengths clear without Cieren Fallon having to get serious in the saddle.

Crown Of Oaks, a one-time 2,000 Guineas and Dante entry, is expected to receive a hefty rise for that success, yet he is in this month’s Cambridgeshire and will carry just a 4lb penalty if he gets into the Newmarket handicap.

Haggas took this year’s Bunbury Cup with subsequent Hungerford Stakes winner More Thunder, and Crown Of Oaks looks like another potential Group performer masquerading as a handicapper.
Joe Eccles

Don't be surprised to see Sandals bounce back

The draw clearly was a factor in the Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday, with the first five home drawn in double-figure stalls and the winner Big Mojo dominating from the stands' side rail.

Three of the four lowest-drawn runners finished in the last five, so the effort of Time For Sandals to finish seventh from stall two in the 17-strong field can certainly be marked up.

The Harry Eustace-trained filly ran with plenty of credit to be beaten less than four lengths under Kieran Shoemark and, while she may not be ideally suited by softer ground in the autumn, the form of her Commonwealth Cup win suggests she is one to follow if she is kept in training next season.

Time For Sandals and Richard Kingscote are led in after winning the Commonwealth Cup

Time For Sandals: draw went against her in the Sprint CupCredit: Patrick McCann

Time For Sandals had Big Mojo back in seventh at Royal Ascot, while the second, fourth, eighth and 13th have since landed Group races, and the form received an additional boost later on Saturday in the US.

Shisospicy, part-owned by Qatar Racing, finished 15th in the Commonwealth Cup but gained a valuable win on her next start in a Grade 2 at Kentucky Downs worth almost £925,000 to the winner.
Jack Haynes

Bow Echo one of two smart two-year-olds to emerge for Boughey

Bow Echo surged nearly to the top of next year's 2,000 Guineas market after his game Ascendant Stakes success at Haydock on Saturday – and he is not the only juvenile to have impressed for George Boughey in recent days.

The Sheikh Obaid homebred colt looked booked for second when the highly touted Juddmonte homebred Publish ranged up with a furlong to run, but Bow Echo showed a tremendous attitude on just his second start to repel his main market rival.

George Boughey watches his string walk by on Warren Hill

George Boughey: has some smart two-year-olds in his ranksCredit: Edward Whitaker

Boughey unleashed another smart prospect at Ascot on Friday in impressive debutante El Vamos.

A 420,000gns buy at Tattersalls Book 1 last year, El Vamos drifted out to 12-1 for her debut before some late market support resulted in her being sent off a 17-2 shot. It was well placed.

The George Waud-owned filly travelled smoothly through the mile fillies' maiden and impressed most in the final furlong, sweeping by the short-price favourite Maneuver to score by three-quarters of a length.

El Vamos, a daughter of St Mark's Basilica, is a half-sister to the Listed-placed Stop The Cavalry and looked well above average in a week that will have excited Boughey and his team.
Jack Haynes

'He's a Guineas horse and that's what we'll be training him for' - Bow Echo beats the highly touted Publish in Ascendant

'Everyone else seems to think he has a chance' - Crown Of Oaks shoots to head of Cambridgeshire market after easy win