Katie Midwinter (08/06/23)
HAYDOCK
1:15pm – Achilles Stakes (Listed Race)
Frankie Dettori is set to ride Charles Hills’ current market leader Equilateral in Saturday’s opener on the card at Haydock. The horse and jockey partnership have the benefit of being drawn in the highest stall of all, which could give them a perfect passage to sprint to victory at the Merseyside track. The eight-year-old is 2lbs clear of his closest rival Regional, who the market suggest may be his biggest threat in the race.
The booking of Dettori, as well as a promising recent run at the track and the drop from Group level, are all positives and there is plenty in Equliateral’s favour as he searches for his first win since February 2021.
Fine Wine is one to consider from an each-way angle, stepping up to Listed level for the first time, having been improving year upon year so far in his career.
The Scott Dixon-trained six-year-old’s ability could be stretched in this class, but he is worthy of taking his chance as he has been performing consistently well at a lower level. The good conditions on track should sit and it would be no surprise to see him enter calculations at an enticing each-way price.
Mondammej finished a neck ahead of Fine Wine when the pair met at York, with the former receiving 7lbs. They meet off level weights here, which could provide a form reversal, however Mondammej has the course-and-distance form to his advantage.
Win selection:
Equilateral 7/2 – Charles Hills, Frankie Dettori
Each-way selection:
Fine Wine 12/1 – Scott Dixon, P J McDonald
1:50pm – Class 3 Handicap
Fancied favourite All The King’s Men drops back in trip after a third-placed effort over 1m½f at Epsom last week. His only run over 6f on good ground or better came when sixth in a maiden on his second start at Chantilly.
Since joining the George Boughey yard he has performed consistently well to earn himself a rating of 89, but he could still be ahead of the handicapper and capable of showing further progression. He has given the impression that the best could be yet to come, but he does face some experienced, hardy handicappers in this field, all used to this type of sprinting challenge.
Old favourite Mr Wagyu drops down in class for the first time since July 2021, when he finished a neck second in a Newmarket Class 3 contest.
John Quinn’s stable star is 4lbs lower than his last winning mark as he makes his 75th career start. He has been a dream horse for connections, amassing almost ten times his yearling price of £26,000. The likable gelding put in a good effort at Epsom last week to finish third and, with Haydock course form to his benefit, he has certain each-way claims.
Lucky Man finished narrowly ahead of Mr Wagyu to finish fourth in the Ayr Gold Cup Handicap last September, receiving 10lbs from his older rival, when running off a mark of 96. Promising jockey claims 3lbs aboard the Richard Spencer-trained gelding, officially rated 94, 3lbs higher than his last winning mark. He has been dropped 1lbs for a disappointing reappearance at York, but could fare better having had a recent run, and is an enticing each-way price at 12/1, suited by the good conditions.
Frankie Dettori rides big priced Emperor Spirit for the in-form Robert Cowell yard that has been enjoying a success rate of 21% in recent weeks, with many of their beaten runners only narrowly defeated or running well enough to place.
Mr Wagyu 10/3 – John Quinn, Jason Hart
3:00pm – Lester Piggott Stakes (Group 3)
Roger Varian’s Dubawi filly Modaara heads the market ahead of this Group Three contest. A sister to Group One winner Benbatl, the four-year-old has only raced three times in her career, finishing fourth on debut before recording two successes on the all-weather, including a thirteen-length victory on reappearance at Kempton last month.
If able to transfer her polytrack form to turf, she has an excellent chance of continuing her winning streak, with the market speaking kindly in her favour.
Time Lock finished a neck second to recent Group Three winner Haskoy when the pair met at York last year, in what is an eye-catching piece of form. The Harry & Roger Charlton-trained filly was beaten on reappearance by now 105-rated mare Luisa Casati, but could improve for the return to action having failed to fire when first time out last term too.
With the yard in flying form, currently performing at a 33% strike rate, and the daughter of Frankel capable of showing even further progression, she is in with a great chance of landing her first black-type success in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Course-and-distance winner Mimikyu must give 5lbs to her rivals, but is 4lbs clear on ratings, currently 13lbs clear of the unexposed Modaara, as she drops back in trip. She claimed a Group Two prize over an extended mile-and-three-quarters at Doncaster in the Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes last term, but is yet to show a similar level of form over the mile-and-a-half in this class.
Sea Silk Road could be the value bet in the field, as a talented, consistent filly, capable of finishing among the places. She has placed at Group Two level over this trip, but was less than impressive on reappearance at York, racing keenly and failing to mount a threatening challenge. A step back to 1m4f could allow her to show her best form, as she has stamina in abundance in her pedigree being by Sea The Stars out of a Doyen mare.
German-raider Nacahtrose is an interesting contender who has an Oaks d’Italia to her name. She is yet to make her mark over this trip, but has proven herself over further and may be dangerous to rule out.
Time Lock 11/4 – Harry & Roger Charlton, Ryan Moore
3:35pm – John Of Gaunt Stakes (Group 3)
There are currently co-favourites of three for this Group Three sprint, with the market struggling to split The Astrologist, El Caballo and Jumby. Australian-raider The Astrologist heads Royal Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes later this month, and has already been preparing for his assignment in the UK. He made his British debut at York last month, finishing seventh in the Duke Of York Stakes, but should surely improve for his run and fare better this time out.
El Caballo is a worthy opponent, but will need to bounce back from two disappointing efforts. Excuses can be made for El Caballo’s performance in both of his last runs as he may have struggled in such a competitive Commonwealth Cup renewal when last seen as a three-year-old, and was unsuited by the heavy going on reappearance at Doncaster.
The Karl Burke-trained colt has course form in his favour, having previously won at Haydock over 6f, and could use that to his advantage with only 3lbs to find with the highest-rated horse in the race, The Astrologist.
Jumby has received market support for Eve Johnson Houghton, and the Group Two winner is capable of putting in a winning performance on his day.
El Caballo 3/1 – K R Burke, Clifford Lee
Special mention:
Get Shirty 5/1 (2:25pm – Class 2 Handicap)
Course-and-distance winner Get Shirty heads the field in this handicap and must give plenty of weight away to some young, more progressive rivals, however he drops back in trip over a distance that doesn’t stretch his stamina capabilities and that could see him return to form.
If he is beaten again and his mark continues to drop, then he will be dangerous later on in the season and will surely return to the winner’s enclosure at some stage.
BEVERLEY
2:05pm – Hilary Needler Trophy (Class 2)
The in-form Robert Cowell saddles one of the outsiders in the field, Miss Woo Woo, in this race for fillies. The daughter of Coach House hasn’t shown much in two starts but she did finish ahead of Beenham in a Listed race at York last month. Beenham had previously beaten Haatem at Goodwood, a horse of Richard Hannon who went off as favourite for the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom last week, finishing third. All of these young fillies could show plenty of improvement, and Miss Woo Woo may be able to outrun her huge odds of 33/1.
3:15pm – Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes (Class 2)
Amo Racing have been in excellent form of late, with two of their many horses impressing at huge prices in both the Oaks and Derby respectively at Epsom last week. A son of classy stallion Mehmas, whose progeny tends to excel over sprinting trips, is Fusterlandia (3/1), representing a Richard Hannon yard that has a knack for producing talented juveniles.
All runners/prices are correct at the time of writing.
THE CONDITIONAL 
Good luck today!
LikeLiked by 1 person