DAQMAN’S WEEKEND CURRAGH KICKS! Daqman yesterday forecast Keke’s flying finish to the Rockingham Stakes at The Curragh to finish in profit on the day. On Saturday, he was on Whirl, Pretty Polly winner on the same course.
WON 11-4 KEKE (Sunday)
WON 13-8 WHIRL (Saturday)
BALLYDOYLE DERBY DOUBLE: Wimbledon starts in earnest today but Daqman ponders the Derby double and wonders how long the Ballydoyle big-hitters can continue to serve aces at will and turn outsiders into contenders.
YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!
TWO ACES? Seriously? After Lambourn’s surprise Epsom Derby victory, another Ballydoyle outsider went close to winning the Irish version yesterday.
Lambourn’s 28-1 stablemate, Serious Contender, was the only one who could go with him but Ryan Moore galvanised Lambourn to put daylight between their head-to-head in the final 50 yards.
Though the first four races at the Curragh yesterday were run in slow time, the Derby one-two for Aidan O’Brien was produced nearly four seconds faster than average.
Lazy Griff, second at Epsom, was beaten further and relegated to third, as the handicapper off 92, Serious Contender, just failed to topple his 120-ranked stable star.
Punters have faced the same questions as ever from Ballydoyle: which one will leap forward, which will hold his form? Or is there another yet more powerful waiting in his box?
The ‘experts’ now take the stage to decide: does Lambourn’s Derby double put him on an Arc pedestal; will his gruelling finishes at Epsom and the Curragh take their toll; can Serious Contender improve again to be a serious contender?
Meanwhile, King George winner Goliath was belittled at Saint-Cloud, failing to place, in another fast time, after five slow-run races there yesterday.
The emerging player this time was the filly Aventure but only good enough in the grand prix to run a modest second behind four times Group-1 runner-up Calandagan.
So, punters, it seems that form figures of 2222 make a superstar after all. Seriously? New balls, please.
HEADMASTER CAN CANE ’EM
⭕ 6.45 Windsor We hope that some form can still be relied on, and give the punter hope.
A maiden race is not a good place to start but ‘headmaster Haggas’ looks set to chalk one up at Windsor tonight.
Headmaster was second at Lingfield, sandwiched between a clear winner and the beaten favourite in third.
That winner by just threeparts of a length, Elarak, ran out a five-lengths-plus scorer again next time on the July Course.
KARAT GOLD AT BETDAQ 4.9
⭕ 7.15 Windsor Not an easy race to call. Elmonjed, another Haggas horse, won here over the CD last August when half a stone lower.
Toca Madera’s summer success was in class 3; his claimer helps in his return to the Windsor CD in class-2 but it’s not really enough (results at this level before claim 00; after claim 034).
I’m inclined towards Grand Karat, a strong traveler who has been winning over an easy 7f around Southwell. This ‘six’ should suit and he gets 9lb from Elmonjed. Betdaq Betting Exchange 4.9.
STARDROP TOO BIG AT 13.0
⭕ 7.45 Windsor Approval won the 1969 Futurity, the first of 10 for Sir Henry Cecil, among them Derby winner Reference Point.
Today’s Approval in this 1m 2f (class 3) handicap is a tongue-tied 89-rated gelding. So it is that blue-plaque names are blurred by repetition.
I don’t even like to see a Calumet, a reminder of the Lexington farm where a legion of Kentucky Derby winners were bred.
My fancy for the race is Stardrop, a 13.0 offer on BETDAQ this morning in his second handicap here.
Easy CD winner first time after a gelding op but overfaced (and not clear run) when trying the Group-3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot the last day.
DAQMAN’S BETS on Betdaq Betting Exchange
6.45 Windsor (win 12)
BET 10pts win HEADMASTER
★ 7.15 Windsor (win 20, nap)
BET 5pts win GRAND KARAT
7.45 Windsor (win 20)
BET 1.75pts win STARDROP
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