Friday, May 4, 2001

BEST PRICES FOR NEWMARKET TOMORROW

15 DECLARED FOR SAGITTA 1000 GUINEAS

THE SAGITTA 1000 GUINEAS

SAGITTA 1000 GUINEAS PREVIEW

Fallon explained that though Karasta can run well “on any ground, Enthused is a real top-of-the-ground filly and, with the weather and the forecast the way it is, it does not seem likely that she will get those conditions.”

Enthused had a good first season, winning three of her five starts and being second in another, though she ended on a slightly low note when only sixth behind stablemate Regal Rose in the Group One Shadwell Stud Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.

Strictly on that form she has a bit to find against Toroca and Autumnal, who finished second and fourth, but it may be that Enthused was over the top for the season at that stage and it could be unwise to take the form at face value.

Toroca, who started at 66/1 in the Cheveley Park, ended last year as a maiden but got off the mark when taking a maiden race at the Curragh on her reappearance last month.

Godolphin, successful in the Sagitta 1000 Guineas three years ago with Cape Verdi, is represented this time by Muwakleh, who is disputing favouritism in the betting lists with Karasta.

Muwakleh did not run as a two-year-old but has been very impressive in her two successes on dirt in Dubai earlier this year, particularly when taking the UAE 1,000 Guineas at Nad Al Sheba in March by five and a half lengths. This will be her first run on grass.

Crystal Music, whose trainer John Gosden won the Sagitta 1000 Guineas last year with Lahan, looked a filly of high promise when capturing all her three races last term, ending with victory in the Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile at Ascot in September, when she beat Summer Symphony by a length and a quarter.

Criquette Head-Maarek has a fine record in the Sagitta 1000 Guineas, which she has won with Ma Biche, Ravinella and Hatoof. This year she is represented by Stunning, who worked very pleasingly at Chantilly last week after winning a Listed race at Longchamp first time out this season. In her first campaign, Stunning won once and was placed five times in six attempts.

Dora Carrington beat Enthused in the Group Two thehorsesmouth.co.uk Cherry Hinton Stakes on the July Course last summer and ended her season when third to Minardi (a big Sagitta 2000 Guineas fancy) in the Group One Independent Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes at Leopardstown in mid-August.

Ameerat, who seemed unlucky against Karasta at Doncaster, being somewhat impeded when the winner jinked, later disappointed behind Sayedah in the Group Two Owen Brown Rockfel Stakes here in October.

That winner then started at 25/1 but made just about all the running and did not surprise her trainer Marcus Tregoning in the process. The extra furlong of the Guineas will be all in her favour and her jockey Richard Hills wore the same colours, those of his retaining owner Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, when he rode Lahan to victory 12 months ago.

Two other of the Hills brothers, John and Michael, team up with Peaceful Paradise, who has been going well at Lambourn and was a good third in a Group Three race at Deauville last summer after her success in the Listed Milcars Sweet Solera Stakes on the July course.

CROWD UP AT NEWMARKET

NEWMARKET LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT TWO DAYS

25/1 SUCCESS NO
SURPRISE TO ELSWORTH

“Neil (Pollard) told me that he was always travelling well and when I picked him up he certainly looked to be going nicely. He won well, but as it was by only three quarters of a length (from Iron Mountain), I hope the handicapper does not put him up too much - 2lb would be about right.

“He came to me after the horses in training sale in the autumn when he did not make his reserve and Mr (Derek) Dunne (who shares the winner with Tommy Cunningham) sent him to me.

“Part of the thinking behind that was that he needed better ground than he was getting when he was being trained and racing in Ireland, but there has hardly been anything for him in this winter.

“He ran well over hurdles and I had him in the Tote Gold Trophy with a handy weight, but there was never really much chance of getting his ground in February. But he ran well over hurdles for me at Wincanton and he has also won over a mile and a half on the Flat in Ireland.”

Master Cooper and the second Iron Mountain raced down the stands side, where there was fresh ground which had been dolled off for the Craven meeting. The best home of the group of those who raced on the far side was Billaddie, who was two lengths behind the runner-up in third place.

SECOND RACE QUOTES
PEARL AND COUTTS NEWMARKET STAKES

FIRST AND SECOND
FOR DUNLOP

But though the runner-up was the shorter priced of the two, the trainer had no preference for either’s prospects and was not in a position to detail immediate plans for the pair, both of whom are in the Vodafone Derby.

“We will have a think and let the dust settle,” said the trainer, who was told by the winner’s jockey Pat Eddery that Rosi’s Boy “did it really well. He got there very easily and ran on well.”

Tim Bulwer-Long, racing manager to the winner’s owner-breeder Wafic Said, was not in a position to commit the colt to Epsom and made the point that none of the dam’s produce have won over more than ten furlongs.

“They have been a mile and a quarter top,” he said, “but with this colt by Caerleon you never know; he might get further. I don’t know about plans, but York is not very far away.”

Rosi’s Boy, whose owner is chairman of the meeting’s sponsor Sagitta, has this winner’s full sister Aunty Rose running in the Dahlia Stakes later in the afternoon.

Bulwer-Long bought the dam Come On Rosi and all her produce have won, with four taking black-type races.

Bookmaker reaction saw Chandlers cut Rosi’s Boy from 100/1 to half that price for Epsom, but Fair Question was pushed out to that price from 33/1. Third-placed Morshdi, who was beaten only a neck and a head, is a 66/1 shot. Hills have cut the winner from 50/1 to 25/1.

WINNING QUOTES RACE THREE
SAGITTA JOCKEY CLUB STAKES

DUNLOP AND EDDERY YET AGAIN

Having taken up the running with more than two furlongs to go, the four-year-old colt stayed on strongly to get the better of Sandmason, one of the two Henry Cecil contenders, by two lengths with Holding Court a further three lengths adrift.

“That was a good run, he quickened up really well and I was delighted with him,” said Dunlop. “Last year he was a typical Rainbow Quest three-year-old, a rather weak and light-framed colt, but he has improved hugely through the winter and is much stronger now.

“I think the next race for him will have to be the Vodafone Coronation Cup, and now that he has strengthened up so well I don’t think he will have any problems with the track at Epsom.

“After that I hope he will be able to have a Group One career over a mile and a half. He has not been entered for the Ascot Gold Cup and I have no plans to run him over longer distances. The fact that he won the St Leger does not mean that he will stay another six furlongs.”

Dunlop’s bright start to the campaign is due in no small measure, he thinks, to the new gallop at Arundel. “It has been a great, great help,” he said. “The horses are really fit; I have not changed anything in my training calendar, but we have never had to miss a single day through the winter. I expect we shall get our comeuppance later in the season, but it does seem at the moment that our horses are fitter than some of the others.”

Eddery commented that the horse had progressed well from three to four.

PLACED QUOTES THIRD RACE
SAGITTA JOCKEY CLUB STAKES

PUZZLED CONNECTIONS

He said: “I feeli muddled really. Wellbeing obviously hasn’t come to himself yet . He gallops all over Sandmason at home over shorter distances.

“We’ll wait and see where he goes next. That was Sandmason’s first run over a mile and a half and it was an encouraging performance. He had a problem with a hind joint last year.

“They are both in the Coronation Cup and the Hardwicke Stakes, plus Wellbeing is in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.”


WINNING QUOTES RACE FOUR
H & K COMMISSIONS (BOOKMAKERS) HANDICAP

HANNON BACK IN FORM

Such was the wide open nature of the race that there were four 9/1 joint favourites, but as the winner and third home Early Morning Mist were two of that quartet, the race was not a skinner for the ring.

“He ran very well in the Free Handicap at the last meeting, when the ground was too soft for him. He likes to bounce off the ground and have a strong gallop, and he will get that when he goes to Ascot. He is in the Cork and Orrery and we shall put him in the Jersey. I think the Jersey is the more likely race for him.

“It has been a desperate winter for us with the weather and the foot and mouth restrictions, but the horses looked really well at work this morning and there are some really nice two-year-olds to come along. They’ll be around soon.”

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s Sagitta 2000 Guineas, Hannon was not happy that King’s Ironbridge is drawn in stall 18 and is quite sure that Tamburlaine is much better than the form he showed when only fourth to Munir in the Greenham at Newbury.

“I may be wrong, but I am sure he is better than that, and I shall be very disappointed if he does not run a big race.”

HUGHES AND NEWMAN BANNED

He was found guilty of interference of a minor nature when impeding Holding Court soon after the start. This brought a three-day ban and also invoked a four-day period which was deferred by the Disciplinary Committee last summer. He thus misses the York May meeting.

Lee Newman was stood down for one day after being found guilty of hitting runner-up Iron Mountain in the wrong place in the opener. This will be on May 25, as it is added on to the 14-day ban he received at Bath this week.

WINNING QUOTES RACE FIVE
DIRECTA PARSEAL DAHLIA STAKES

ANOTHER DUNLOP STRIKE

“Until about five days ago she was in foal to Diktat,” related the trainer. “But then we found that she was having twins, so one was squeezed and then unfortunately she lost the other.

“The plan was for her to go back to the stud, win, lose or draw after this, but now that she has won and is not in foal I do not know what will happen.

“I shall have to talk about it to Mr (Martyn, the owner) Burke, before we decide whether she is to be covered by Diktat again.

“She has always swished her tail. When she won her first race last year at Kempton it went round and round like a windmill. We thought that being in foal might reform her, but clearly it does not stop her winning and I thought Jimmy (Fortune) gave her a lovely ride.

“I asked him about sending her back to the stud to be covered again by Diktat, but he said that we should carry on running her. Maybe that was because he wants some more rides on her!”


WINNING QUOTES RACE SIX
HBLB LEICESTERSHIRE STAKES

FANSHAWE HOPES FOR FAMILY DOUBLE

“It is a very good thing that the races like this can be switched nowadays,” said the trainer, who now plans to run Warningford in the Juddmonte Lockinge at Newbury later this month.

“I think he will get the mile now, and I would like to think that there will be a job for him as a stallion,” the trainer added. “He is seven now, and he has won a Group Three and two Listed races, so I think he deserves a chance at stud.

“When he ran here at the Craven meeting it was over six furlongs and they simply went too fast for him. He did not get the best of runs, either, but I think that race put him just right for this one.”


SEVENTH RACE QUOTES
THE DIRECTA GAFFA MAIDEN STAKES

GOSDEN PLEASED

Trainer John Gosden said: “She is a nice filly and likes to use herself. She will settle in time. Robert (Havlin - the winning jockey) knows her well - he rides her at home.

“She is a lovely free-moving filly. Her father Lure was like that - he was a fabulous racehorse and he broke from the outside gate in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and beat the whole field to the bend and made all. It was most extraordinary.

“She was in the Guineas but it all came too soon. She was due to run earlier but the weather was so horrible that she couldn’t. So she has come here.

“She is in the Coronation Stakes and we will train her with that in mind. We will get Mrs Taylor over - she is a fabulous woman and a very old friend who has had horses with me for 20 years.”

GOSDEN ON HIS GUINEAS FILLIES

“Having said that, we had a very bad spring when Lahan won the race for us last year, so saying that the race is a week early for her is probably not a very great statement.

“They have both been up here recently because I have wanted to be able to work them on some better ground than we have at home. Crystal Music has been working like a filly who wants middle distances, but she looks well and has been going well.

“Santolina has been working nicely and is in good form. She looks like a specialist seven furlongs or mile filly.”


WINNING QUOTES RACE EIGHT
NEWMARKET CHALLENGE WHIP

GOSDEN DOUBLES UP

“I thought he was going to get beaten when they were in the Dip, and Frankie (Dettori) said to me afterwards, ‘hey, John, he was doing nothing,’” said the trainer afterwards.

Venturer, who cost $400,000 as a yearling, was not able to race last year because he had to undergo surgery. “That was a nice race for him to start back,” added Gosden.

This completed a double for Gosden of just over 7-1 following his success with Lurina, who likewise made all the running in her race.

GO RACING CLINCHES MEDIA-RIGHTS DEAL

As of yesterday (May 4 2001), Go Racing has received acceptances from racecourses representing over 71% of betting turnover. As the RCA confirmed, Go Racing believes it is important to ensure that the best solution for British racing is achieved, with as many racecourses as possible of the 59 signing up. Go Racing is committed to achieving this and will be working with these important racecourses between now and the deadline of 11th May 2001. The final signature version of the contract will be distributed within 24 hours, clearing the way for this groundbreaking deal to go forward once the full contract conditions have been met.

Christopher Stoddart, Chief Executive Officer of Go Racing, said: "I am delighted that we have had such a good level of acceptances so quickly from the racecourses. We hope to be able to welcome most of the remaining racecourses by 11th May to ensure we deliver the best solution for racing."

The racecourses that have signed the Racing Rights Contract are:

Terrestrial Rights Group(TRG)
Aintree, Ascot, Ayr, Cheltenham, Chepstow, Chester, Doncaster, Epsom, Goodwood, Haydock, Kempton, Newbury, Newmarket, Newcastle, Sandown, Uttoxeter, and York

Racecourse Holdings Trust(RHT)
Carlisle, Huntingdon, Market Rasen, Nottingham, Warwick and Wincanton (RHT courses, which are also members of TRG include Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom, Haydock, Kempton, Newmarket and Sandown)

Arena Leisure
Folkestone, Lingfield, Southwell, Windsor, Wolverhampton and Worcester

Northern Racing
Bath, Brighton and Hereford(Northern Racing courses which are also members
of TRG include Chepstow, Newcastle and Uttoxeter)

GLOBEFORM RATINGS FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY AND THE GUINEAS

GLOBEFORM RATINGS

127 POINT GIVEN
123+ CONGAREE
123+ MONARCHOS
122+ MILLENNIUM WIND
121+ EXPRESS TOUR
120 A P VALENTINE
118 BALTO STAR
116? THUNDER BLITZ
115 FIFTY STAR
115 SONGANDAPRAYER
110 DOLLAR BILL
109+ INVISIBLE INK
108 JAMAICAN RUM
108 STARTAC
106 KEATS
105 TALK IS MONEY
104 ARCTIC BOY

POINT GIVEN, already on the same Globeform mark as Fusaichi Pegasus earned when winning the Derby a year ago, will be very hard to beat. His performance at last year’s Breeders’ Cup, where he ran to GF 123+, augured very well for his classic campaign. He has not let us down this year, confirming his class with two impressive wins. He ran to GF 127 in the Santa Anita Derby, where he laughed at Crafty CT, who is a very decent horse. It would be tempting to put a + next to Point Given’s rating, but when one is nearing the 130-mark that can be a bit dangerous. If he does improve again, however, he is certain winner of the 127th Kentucky Derby. Is there really such a thing as a sure thing in this race? History gives us the answer to that question and it is, of course: Not at all.

BOB BAFFERT also saddles CONGAREE, who was very impressive in the Wood Memorial, beating MONARCHOS with the rest nowhere. The son of Arazi is certainly bred to stay a mile and a quarter, but his style of running may not support that theory. He had the run of the race at Aqueduct, where Monarchos was given far too much to do. Conagree ran to GF 123+, the same mark as Monarchos produced when winning the Florida Derby. These two colts are still on the upgrade and 123 is very high for horses with so little experience. Monarchos ran an exceptional race at Gulfstream Park, where he made a huge move wide on the home turn, and then quicken again early in the straight to more or less park his opponents. Not many horses can do what he did that day and he can turn the tables on Congaree. He is Point Given’s main rival.

MILLENNIUM WIND improved significantly last time out, when winning the Blue Grass Stakes from the front end. His previous best was GF 114 but he stepped right up to GF 122 when making all to beat Songandaprayer at Keeneland. His brother Charismatic won the Derby but Millennium Wind looks more and more like a nine-furlong performer, and he will – in all probability – be facing a stamina test of proportions on Saturday.

EXPRESS TOUR, who ran such a game race winning the UAE Derby, is also one with uncertain stamina. He enjoyed a better trip than Street Cry at Nad Al Sheba and many would favour Street Cry if they meet again. On the other hand, Express Tour was the one needing the run most, and he rallied to regain the lead after having been headed. He is clearly a very tough horse and should not be underestimated. David Flores said straight after the race that this colt will stay the Derby trip. He is bound to improve so, if stamina is no problem, he is one to take seriously.

A P VALENTINE ran to GF 120 when beating Point Given in the Champagne Stakes as a juvenile but his form this year has been well below that level and he is hard to place here. On his Champagne form he has a chance of hitting the board, on his Blue Grass form he has no chance whatsoever.

BALTO STAR improved his rating to GF 118 when he landed a weak Arkansas Derby in the slop. He likes to make the running and is an effective operator but this will be a lot tougher for him. He is unlikely to get things his own way up front and is a hard to fancy.

THUNDER BLITZ ran a very good race when he won the Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah. Outofthebox was not 100 per cent coming back from that event, so Thunder Blitz beat little of consequence, coming home 6 ¾ lengths in front of Tour of the Cat, with TALK IS MONEY third. He was impressive tough, and those who would like a dream bet at a big price could go for this progressive type. Having said that, the morning line price for EXPRESS TOUR, who has been put in as a 20-1 shot, looks tempting.

GLOBEFORM SELECTS:

POINT GIVEN – MONARCHOS – CONGAREE
(EXPRESS TOUR, MILLENNIUM WIND)


GLOBEFORM RATINGS
2000 GUINEAS STAKES (G1)
1 mile Newmarket Saturday

121 MINARDI
117 NAYEF
114+ TOBOUGG
114 KING’S IRONBRIDGE
114 RED CARPET
113 KING’S COUNTY
111+ MUNIR
111 TEMPEST
110 TAMBURLAINE
107+ RUMPOLD
106+ GOLAN
106+ FRENCHMANS BAY
105?+ DEVINE TASK
105 IMPERIAL DANCER
105 PATSY’S DOUBLE
98 DARWIN
95+ MAYVILLE THUNDER
94+ HERETIC
85+ VOLATA

MINARDI goes into the 2000 Guineas as Gllobeform’s top rated contender. The Irish trained colt ran a top class race when winning the Heinz 57 Stakes by daylight last year, and he confirmed his class with a poweful win in the Middle Park Stakes at this course. He must have a good chance, though there are three causes for concern: will he get the mile? – has he trained on? – is the stable forward enough for this? Aidan O’Brien’s spring has been anything but easy, due to the bad weather, and too many of his odds-on seasonal debutants have been beaten.

NAYEF put up a very smart performance in the mud at Ascot last year, but the form should be treated with great care. He ran to only GF 107 when beaten in the Craven Stakes two weeks ago, and looked more like a ten furlong horse than a miler.

MUNIR, in the same ownership and now to be ridden by Richard Hills, appeals a lot more. This impeccably bred and very attractive colt ran out a clear cut winner of the Greenham Stakes, where he ran to GF 111+ when defeating FRENCHMANS BAY. Munir was quickening off a steady pace that day but he is bred to get the mile, being a son of the champion miler Al Bahatri, and he acts well on soft ground. Trainer Barry Hills has his team I great form and in Munir he has legitimate classic contender. The son of Indian Ridge was full of running passing the post at Newbury and will improve again.

RUMPOLD ran only once at two, knocking out Minardi at Ascot. That was an exceptional racecourse debut and he was quickly snapped up by Godolphin.

Minardi won two Group Ones after that, and the form looks very solid also when looking at others behind at Ascot. Rumpold confirmed his wellbeing when winning a private trial at Nad Al Sheba, from DIVINE TASK and TOBOUGG.

Rumpold appeals a lot, he should improve considerably and can confirm the form with his two stable companions on Saturday (provided we do not get more rain, his action is that of a fast ground performer).

TOBOUGG will start favourite on Saturday. He did little wrong last year, landing two important Group Ones, the Prix de la Salamandre and the Dewhurst Stakes. Only trouble is, neither of these races were particularly strong. The form has not worked out well. Tobougg ran to GF 114+ in the Dewhurst and he is open to improvement but, that improvement could well come over further than a mile. He is by the top class miler Barathea but has a lot of stamina on his dam’s side.

KING’S IRONBRIDGE and RED CARPET ran first and second in the Craven Stakes and there is nothing between them on ratings. They both have to improve again to win, and Red Carpet may be the better of the two in a strongly run mile.

GOLAN beat Clearing in his only race as a juvenile and that form looks strong (the pair pulled 9 lengths clear at Chepstow), as Clearing has since won the Horris Hill Stakes and the Free Handicap. Golan is fascinating Derby horse, who may find this mile on the sharp side. He has been handed an unfavourable draw in the Guineas. Look for him to be staying on for third or fourth, and shorten further in the Derby betting.

DEVINE TASK must not be underestimated. He ran really well in the trial at Nad Al Sheba, where he split Rumpold and Tobougg. It was a very slowly run affair and the form is difficult to assess but the same can be said about many an officiial trial. Devine Task takes his chance, according to the program making his lifetime debut but one can feel assured that he has been given plenty of experience in works in Dubai. At 25-1 he is a tempting each way bet.

FRENCHMANS BAY is the other maiden with a chance. He has been placed in Group races on his two starts and was not suited by the steady pace when second to Munir in the Greenham. He will be better in a strongly run race.

TEMPEST ran the race of his life in the Dewhurst last year, when he was not far beaten behind Tobougg and his price is too big, though he strikes us a horse just below the class required to win a Guineas in a normal year. This is not a normal year though, this Guineas is below par and it is a very open race with question marks hanging over the top rated runners. The handicap ranking may well look totally different on Sunday morning.

GLOBEFORM SELECTS:
MUNIR – RUMPOLD – TOBOUGG (MINARDI – DEVINE TASK)


1000 GUINEAS (G1)
1 mile Newmarket Sunday

CRYSTAL MUSIC, who ran a cracking good race in the Fillies’ Mile at Ascot last year, is our top rated filly in the 1000 Guineas on Sunday. Having to overcome a steady pace, the attractive daughter of Nureyev won well from Summer Symphony, earning Globeform 114+. Hopefully, she will get a truly run race on Sunday, and she can beat Godolphin’s MUWAKLEH and Sir Micheal Stoute’s KARASTA. They have both run to GF 110+. Karasta won the May Hill Stakes despite being green last year, before coming up against the very classy Amonita in the Prix Marcel Boussac. Muwakleh beat Zahwah easily twice at Nad Al Sheba earlier this year and she has big advantage over the English fillies, coming here after enjoying plenty of sunshine on her back. She could be the biggest danger to Crystal Music, but is lacking in experience.

Historically, that is not very good in this event. Aidan O’Brien’s Toroca, who ran such a big race when second the Cheveley Park Stakes last autumn, looks overpriced at around 25-1 and is the each way bet in the race.

GLOBEFORM SELECTS:
CRYSTAL MUSIC – MUWAKLEH – KARASTA (TOROCA)

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