Believe the hype: why Vintage Stakes favourite Battleground is no public enemy

2.15 Goodwood
Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes (Group 2) | 7f | 2yo | ITV/RTV

While France and Ireland have their first Group 1s for two-year-olds in mid-August, the first such races in Britain take place towards the end of September. If Britain is to join the party earlier, the main candidate is quite possibly the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

Admittedly, that judgement would be made strictly on achievements at two. But a Group 2 that has produced Olympic Glory, Toormore, Highland Reel, Galileo Gold, Expert Eye and Pinatubo solely among its winners in the last ten years must expect at least a hearing.

This looks a below-average renewal of the Vintage Stakes, but that is to be expected based on what we have seen so far this season. A late start has hit the seven-furlong juvenile races, which are not often won by early two-year-olds. The winning performances in the Chesham, Pat Eddery, Superlative and Star Stakes were all on or below the ten-year averages for the race.

The Chesham and Superlative could prove key to this race. Battleground was a substandard winner of the former on bare form, Devious Company left trailing in second behind an on-standard winner of the latter.

Ryan Moore aboard Battleground in the Chesham StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Much debate will surround why Battleground, 3lb worse off on RPRs, is floating just above even-money with Devious Company next best at around 7-2 at the time of writing. Visual impressions are a part of it, Battleground was underlining his superiority by the stride as they approached the finish at Ascot. Some of it is background, given he is from Ballydoyle and duly booked for improvement in the popular imagination, and he is also out of Found.

You could flip some of those points against him. Going from soft ground at Ascot to around good at Goodwood, over the same trip, is probably the wrong way in terms of his ultimate destination. Sometimes, though, you just feel like you have seen a Group 1 horse playing in the shallows and must act accordingly.

While this is not the best Vintage Stakes, there is scope to be positive about plenty.

Youth Spirit clocked a good time at Newmarket and is by Camelot out of a half-sister to Bogart and Blaine, which is a Coolmore-esque approach whose outcome will be fascinating to see. Dark Lion represents the Coventry form and has since won an ordinary seven-furlong novice, while King Zain shaped better than the result in the Superlative and has shades of Visinari, the long-striding hype horse who finished fourth in this race last year for the same yard.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

What they say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Battleground
Everything has gone well with him since Ascot and we're looking forward to seeing him run again. He's a very straightforward and uncomplicated horse. It's possible he could handle further but we're running him over seven furlongs again and this is a slightly easier seven than last time.

Roger Varian, trainer of Dark Lion
We like him a lot and the Coventry form usually stands up. Wolverhampton was just a case of getting his head in front, and it came quick enough after Royal Ascot, but he got the job done. He's trained lovely in the last ten days and I would think this test will suit him very well.

Tom Dascombe, trainer of Devious Company
He’s a very tough and genuine two-year-old, and he goes into the race with the best form according to the figures, but I’m not sure how much improvement there still is in him. A lot will depend upon how much improvement Mr O’Brien’s horse [Battleground] has made since Royal Ascot, but he’s bred to be a proper horse.

Devious Company (right) winning at Haydock for the second timeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Richard Hannon, trainer of Fountain Cross
It’s hard to see him winning, but he’s been solid all year. He’ll be suited by going back to seven furlongs and we are hoping he’ll be competitive enough to sneak a bit of black type.

Ian Jardine, trainer of Kraken Power
He’s an outsider, but he’s a nice big horse and he looked good when he won at Hamilton. The ground won’t be an issue, and you can put a line through his run at Newbury where he blitzed along and didn’t get home. We’ll drop him in and ride him to see the finish out.

Alan King, trainer of Painless Potter
We were very pleased with his run in the Coventry, only second time out and first on turf. It’s a job to know how good that race was and the third was well beaten at Ascot on Saturday. He’s a colt we’ve always liked and I’ve been very happy with him since. I would think the seven furlongs should suit. I’m looking forward to running and see where we are, we’ll learn again with him.

Oisin Murphy, rider of Youth Spirit
He’s a very likeable horse and very straightforward. It’s a very competitive race but he’s definitely progressing, he’s not ground dependent, and he’ll hit the line well.
Reporting by Graham Dench

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