Has Sir Michael Stoute got another superstar? All eyes on exciting Nostrum

Thursday: 3.00 Newmarket
Tattersalls Stakes (Registered As The Somerville Tattersall Stakes) (Group 3) (Colts & Geldings) | 7f | 2yo | RTV

There was a bit of a buzz around Sandown after Nostrum made a winning debut at the track in July. The feeling was that those in attendance might just have seen something special and the Racing Post’s handicappers agreed, handing out a debut Racing Post Rating of 97.

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute is famed for his patient approach and rarely has juvenile debut winners. The exceptions are usually good. Derby heroes Workforce and Desert Crown can be counted among them and Nostrum posted a higher debut RPR than both.

Nostrum is rated 3lb higher than Desert Crown after one run and 1lb better than Workforce, so everything points to Stoute having another potential Classic contender on his hands here.

Whether it will be the 2,000 Guineas or the Derby we will find out in time, but there is little doubt that if Nostrum improves along similar lines to the majority of his stablemates he will probably be too good for this Group 3 opposition and let’s hope it happens. He looks a star.

If Nostrum doesn’t make the expected progress then Victory Dance is most likely to pick up the pieces. He is trained by Charlie Appleby, after all, and the yard is 42-163 with juveniles at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile. A £1 bet on all of the runners would have yielded a £41.10 profit.

Victory Dance sets the standard on form along with debut Chesham winner Holloway Boy. They are locked together with best RPRs of 105 and it’s tough to say who is open to more progress.

Karl Burke is excited to be bringing Holloway Boy to NewmarketCredit: Edward Whitaker

Holloway Boy probably has the better base level of ability given he was able to win at Royal Ascot first time up, but maybe he was more precocious and Victory Dance has caught up. We should find out here in what looks a fascinating four-runner field completed by Abravaggio.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

George Margarson, trainer of Abravaggio
I wouldn’t really want to go for this race on the back of what he did [ninth on his debut] at Yarmouth. I’m going for it on the back of what I know he can do. I expected him to do well at Yarmouth and then he got wiped out mid-race but he finished the race off very well with decent horses and he’s shown me that, although we didn’t get the experience we wanted, he’s got the class to compete in this type of race.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Victory Dance
He goes into this race in good order, with experience and some strong Group-race form under his belt. We are looking forward to him returning to Group company and feel he should be very competitive.

Karl Burke, trainer of Holloway Boy
We felt he was a little unlucky in the Vintage, when he got hampered at the four-furlong pole and had to change position. He also pulled a shoe off and because he lost that position he ended up coming wide and a bit earlier than ideal and got robbed close home. But take nothing away from the winner [Marbaan], he was the best horse on the day. We think there’s some improvement in Holloway Boy and he’s come back well from a dirty scope, which is why we didn’t run him in the Champagne. It’s an exciting one and we love coming down south and taking a nice prize, but we won’t get ahead of ourselves.
Reporting by Lola Katz Roberts

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