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SWEET ON MEMORIES IN LISTED FEATURE
It’s great to be riding for John and Thady Gosden in a Listed race and SWEET MEMORIES looks to have a good chance of at least achieving valuable black type in the British EBF 40th Anniversary Chalice Stakes (2.40) at Newmarket on Saturday.
Lordship Stud’s beautifully bred daughter of Seas The Stars lacks experience compared to some of her rivals but the Gosdens clearly feel she can acquit herself well at this level.
A half-sister to Group 1 winner Cursory Glance, Sweet Memories re-appeared at Newbury two weeks ago to win a 10f fillies’ novice for Frankie Dettori, giving the distinct impression she will really enjoy this step up in trip.
I team up with the Gosdens again in the Turners Handicap (3.15) on my boss Imad Alsagar’s INTINSO , who also steps up to 1m4f following a qualifying run on the All-Weather at Chelmsford City.
A slightly raced son of Sussex Stakes hero Paddington’s sire Siyouni, he’s a colt we’ve always liked and will hopefully begin to come into his own over this kind of trip.
EXPRESS LOOKS OPEN TO IMPROVEMENT
MAHARAJAS EXPRESS is shaping as though he’s ready to go well after looking in need of his first turf run of the year at York last week.
I put Richard Spencer’s gelding through his paces on the Watered Gallop on the Rowley Mile recently and he gave me a good feel ahead of the Ian Angry Anderson 50th Birthday Celebration Handicap (4.25).
Gelded in the spring, it’s still early days for him from a handicapping perspective so getting weight from all his rivals makes him an interesting contender.
Robert Cowell’s veteran HAN SOLO BERGER also gave a strong indication he’s ready to win again when he was denied right on the line over course and distance last time.
A winner for me at Yarmouth last summer off a higher rating, he returns to the July Course in the Turners Of Soham Handicap (5.00) and can defy a 2lb higher mark.
IDEAL STARTING POINT FOR STOUTE FILLY
It’s always nice to ride for Sir Michael Stoute who has booked me for Cheveley Park Stud’s newcomer WORD PLAY in the Turners British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (3.50).
I don’t know much about this daughter of Saxon Warrior, other than she’s out of a 7f two-year-old winner, but this looks an ideal starting point for her so close to home.
Earlier, Archie Watson’s Middleham Park Racing filly DEFYING ORDERS steps up in class to contest the British EBF Fillies’ Nursery Handicap (2.05). She got off the mark in good style on fast ground at Lingfield Park last month and can hopefully hold her own in this better company.
ARCHIE OUT TO GO ONE BETTER IN STEWARDS CUP
I’ll be cheering on Archie Watson’s Albasheer in the big sprint of the day on Saturday, the Qatar Stewards’ Cup (3.35) at Goodwood.
The pace will be fast and furious in this 6f dash, which will really suit him, and he’s looking like a very well handicapped horse off his reduced mark of 97.
Archie had a near miss in this last year when I finished second on Tabdeed, so I’d love to see him go one better with a horse who appears to tick all the right boxes.
DEAD GROUND BLUNTED NASHWA’S QUEST
Nashwa ran a good race in defeat in her attempt to win the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Thursday for the second year in a row. I’m obviously disappointed with the result, finishing third, but on reflection she did well under the circumstances.
She settled into the race beautifully and travelled well, looking like the winner between the three and the two, but just wasn’t able to show her class and turn of foot on that dead, holding ground. I think the 10f in those conditions just stretched her stamina, too, but we’ll be back to go again once my boss Imad Alsagar and the team have formed another plan.
