'She goes there with a good shout' - key quotes and analysis for the Scurry Stakes at Sandown

It would be quite easy to overlook the Scurry Stakes (2.40) with Royal Ascot just around the corner, but don’t let its proximity distract you from watching with an eye to the future.

The mighty Battaash and subsequent Group 2 winners Lazuli and Mitbaahy all feature on the recent roll of honour, while 2019 scorer Kurious followed up in the Group 3 Coral Charge over the same course and distance.

Not all of the eight runners have Group potential – a few will be on the hunt to pick up some black type – but if there is a genuine top-level sprinter lurking in this field it’s probably Coto De Caza.

She held an entry in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes, but she is yet to run this season and would be facing hardened rivals there, so this looks a good bit of placing.

She arguably should have won her last four starts, given she raced away from the main action when third at Ayr in September, and her victory in the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes in October makes her the standout on official ratings.

Harry Davies riding Coto De Caza wins the Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket

Coto De Caza: won the Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket in OctoberCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

She has to carry a 5lb penalty, but the Racing Post Rating of 107 she achieved would have been good enough to win five of the last seven runnings and she is open to untold improvement this season.

Star Of Mehmas lowered the juvenile course record at Ayr when beating Coto De Caza in September and is 2lb better off with that rival here, despite her improvement since.

She might not appreciate this course as much as others, though, whereas Hold A Dream, who finished ahead of Star Of Mehmas over 6f at Chelmsford last month and is now 3lb better off, is worth a look dropping in trip.

Henry de Bromhead is one from one with his Flat runners at Sandown and his Town And Country, who belied odds of 33-1 to split First Instinct and Babouche at Cork last month, could be the biggest threat if building on that with Colin Keane in the saddle.
Analysis by Harry Wilson

What they say

Ed Crisford, joint-trainer of Coto De Caza
We had to pull her out of a race at Chantilly on French Derby day as she got cast in her box. We got her home and checked her out and luckily she’s okay, so we’ve rerouted her here. She’s in super form and seems well in herself this year.

Philip Robinson, racing manager to Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, owner of Kullazain
You can put a line through his first run of the year at Haydock as he was drawn out on the wing. He’s going back to a track where he won impressively as a two-year-old, so he's not without a chance.

Philip Robinson, racing manager to Jaber Abdullah, owner of Star Of Mehmas
Ryan Moore liked her when she was second at the track last time and before that she did well to be third in a Listed race at Chelmsford as she was drawn out in the car park. She goes there with a good shout.

Clive Cox, trainer of Hold A Dream
She’s dropping back to five but we’re pleased with her draw and we’ve been pleased with her at home since her solid run in the Carnarvon Stakes, with a Listed place at Chelmsford before that.
Reporting by David Milnes

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