DAQMAN’S NAP THUNDERS HOME: Daqman landed two winners out of three in the BETDAQ-sponsored races at Kempton last night, though his lay was lost. His winners were Lager Time (WON 13-8) and his nap, Lawman’s Thunder (WON 13-8).
CLASSIC PREVIEW 1: It’s fillies’ day on Sunday in Ireland in the 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh. Now read Daqman’s exclusive ABC guide, in which he questions the official ratings, and regards the field as ‘festooned with fillies of potential.’
CLASSIC PREVIEW 2: English fillies have one last chance to put the Oaks at Epsom on their agenda, with today’s final trial, the Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood. His nap is also at Goodwood.
RIZEENA TO MISS IRISH 1,000 GUINEAS
ABC GUIDE TO THE IRISH 1,000 GUINEAS: Sunday’s 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh (3.55) is without the Newmarket winner, Miss France, but we have the runner-up, Lightning Thunder, and there are so many dark sorts, the winner could go straight to the top of the ratings, which I currently question here. Rizeena was withdrawn this morning after a setback.
A Rated 110-120 (7 out of 10)
B Ran in a Group race (10 out of 10)
C Sire placed in Group 1 up to a mile (9 out of 10)
D Raced four to eight times (9 out of 10)
E Trained in Ireland (6 out of 10)
F Late foal (April-May) (6 out of 10)
ABCD Lightning Thunder
Her 111 official rating looks mean after her neck second to Miss France in the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas, the filly who beat her a head last year when ‘Lightning’ tried to make most of the running in the Oh So Sharp Stakes.
It was Miss France who played catch-me this time around, after her fitness prep in the Prix Imprudence, and a held-up Lightning Thunder, having her first race since October, was caught for foot until a (too) late stage. I would tie Miss France and Lightning Thunder on 114.
BCD Al Thakhira
Marked down by the official handicapper. Her head second to J Wonder in the Fred Darling might have inspired him to loft her from a mark of 107 had she and her conqueror performed well in the French 1,000.
In fact, they finished in the same order, but only seventh and eighth, at Longchamp and J Wonder is now regarded as a humble 104 with Al Thakhira 103. Again, I would have them level peggings, since Al Thakhira was hampered during her effort from the back.
BCDE Avenue Gabriel
Last year was behind Wonderfully and then behind Tapestry before that one’s second to Rizeena. This year behind Bracelet in the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial before that one was well behind in the Newmarket Guineas itself. But she’s got a lovely behind.
BCDE Ballybacka Queen
Avenue Gabriel did beat something last year – Ballybacka Queen – and that one looks overrated on 100 after her third to a 98.
BCDE Heart Focus
The Bolger family’s filly has more or less maintained her rating since second to Sandiva at Naas last June and fourth in the Albany at Royal Ascot. No sign of improvement, then.
BCDE Wonderfully
The needle’s stuck here, too. Rated 105 after beating Perhaps last July, she’s still on that mark after her Fillies’ Mile fourth and defeats at Longchamp in the Criterium last year and the ‘Pouliches’ (1,000) this season. Since she was behind Al Thakhira in the Pouliches, she needs to bounce back now from my notional 103.
BCE Palace
Second to Afternoon Sunlight in the (May) Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial and that one had been second to My Titania in September. But she was regarded as ‘our best filly‘ at Ballydoyle last year and is now returning to form after a setback.
BCE Marvellous
Unplaced in the (March) 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown but carries a Ballydoyle warning similar to that for Palace: her form is disguised because she has been so green. Still beat a big field in her maiden though.
BCE My Titania
Slammed another Sea The Stars filly, Afternoon Sunlight, who has been a benchmark this year, winning the (May) Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial.
My Titania then won the Park Stakes at The Curragh from Chicago Girl (let the form down this year) and Tarfasha (boosted the form by trotting up in the Blue Wind and second favourite for the Epsom Oaks). What to make of that? Officially My Titania is a 106 but Tarfasha’s on 109.
BCE Queen Of Power
Michael O’Callaghan recognizes that this is a ‘huge step up’ for the Gowran maiden winner but he can walk her to the races from his Curragh yard and ‘may never have another big chance.’
BC Evita Peron
Mixed breeding signals put this one on amber. Her dam was placed at 1m 4f (green) but she’s a half-sister to a Kings Stand winner (red). Don’t cry for Ralph Beckett, who again won the Lingfield Oaks Trial with Honor Bound. A Pivotal, Evita Peron needs cut.
BEF Vote Often
Another soft-ground filly. Dermot ‘Ballybrit’ Weld knows the form through Afternoon Sunlight, his trial winner (see Palace and My Titania). Beat older fillies in the Park Express Stakes over the Curragh CD and ‘could be anything.’
CE Tested
Another Weld. Another still green and yet another soft-ground filly (by Selkirk) but another who spread-eagled her field on the debut as a juvenile.
On form, she’d have around the same mark – lowest in the race – as Evita Peron (91) but this field is festooned with fillies of potential. Will they catch up with those who have already earned the higher ratings?
IS THERE A SNOW FAIRY ON THE CARD?
It’s the last-chance saloon. If a filly (today in the Height Of Fashion Stakes) or a colt (in tomorrow’s Cocked Hat Stakes) is to emerge for the Epsom Oaks and Derby feasts, they must find a late place at the table in these two trials.
Snow Fairy suddenly came into Fashion today in 2010 and followed up at Epsom. Today’s race has two genuine hopefuls, Jordan Princess and Psychometry.
4.25 Goodwood (Height Of Fashion Stakes) Luca Cumani’s yard has just now come to form and has already won an Oaks trial with Voilume.
Jordan Princess is a significant runner here though, on pedigree, she needs the ground to stay firm on a day when there are thunderstorms about.
Her key contribution so far is second to Taghrooda – at a respectful six lengths – in the Prettty Polly at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting.
Cumani was in moderate form at the time and she could step up on that. Of course, if she wins, Taghrooda will be an even firmer favourite for the Oaks.
Psychometry has to improve on her modest Cheshire Oaks run – Secret Pursuit second – now going right-handed instead of that one long left-hander that is Chester. Secret Pursuit won’t mind the rain.
Eastern Belle, Emaratyia Ana and Uchenna are already bound for the second-division Oaks, the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot.
The race is very hard to call from over my cornflakes because of the uncertain ground. If the rain gets into it, Marsh Daisy (a Pivotal) will be o e of the beneficiaries.
But Eastern Belle, Jordan princess and Psychometry are bred in a darker shade of pruple, and Eastern Belle is by a soft-heavy ground sire.
The ratings (that’s where I came in) say that this is between Secret Pursuit and Feedyah, third in the UAE 1,000 Guineas and second in the UAE Oaks.
Perhaps the best value is Emaratiya Ana, win and place at 12.0 on BETDAQ this morning, since the winning colt when she was a Newmarket fourh in April represents Derby trial form.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET 12pts win (nap) RUSSIAN REALM (3.50 Goodwood)
BET 1.8pts win and place EMARATIYA ANA (4.25 Goodwood)
BET 12pts win RUSSIAN HEROINE (5.55 Sandown)
BET 7.5pts win GAY MARRIAGE (8.40 Sandown)
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