5-2 WINNER IS NUMBER SEVEN FOR DAQMAN IN THREE DAYS: Daqman made it seven winners in three days, with a winner in three yesterday, Tammooz (WON 5-2). Today, on the eve of York, DAQMAN has three bets including a NAP at Kempton who is out again quickly after a facile win last week.
WORLD’S-BEST CONTENDERS KEPT ONE DAY APART: Enable versus Crystal Ocean. It doesn’t happen again yet but the fierce competition for which of them is the world’s best is being played out in separate races at York this week. Daqman’ ratings, and those of their challengers, suggest that one has an easier passage but that both may emerge on level-pegging before they face the big swim, the Arc at Longchamp in October.
CAN DEPUTY DOGS CRACK CRYSTAL?
Can Enable and Crystal Ocean, possibly the two best horses in the world, hold on to their reputations in separate races at York this week. Neither can afford to falter, with Daqman rating them 127 each.
FIRST LEG: 3.35 York tomorrow (International Stakes, Group 1)
127 CRYSTAL OCEAN (Sir Michael Stoute): His giving 3lb to Enable (John Gosden) cost him the King George, says the Press in unison. A strict line through Magical (Aidan O’Brien) says they are right.
But both Enable and Magical swerve this, leaving their deputies, King Of Comedy (for Gosden), with Japan and Circus Maximus (for O’Brien), to try to crack Crystal Ocean, who has a solid stablemate pitching in there, too: Regal Reality.
120 ELARQAM Group-2 winner over the York CD on the soft, with Regal Reality in fourth. In and out last year but stronger and more reliable now.
120 REGAL REALITY Improved performance in the Coral-Eclipse (third to Enable and Magical) but poor on soft on the last day and, as a Group-3-only winner, needs more of Stoute’s skill with older horses.
118 JAPAN (could be worth 125 with 3yo allowance) Epsom Derby third and winner of the ‘Ascot Derby’ (King Edward V11 Stakes), didn’t have to improve to take the Grand Prix de Paris. This looks short for him and he’s more a Leger horse.
115 LORD GLITTERS This 1m 2f is a big departure at age six from Lord Glitters long career as a miler, starting out in handicaps off 102 and winning the Queen Anne as a 116 rated.
111 CIRCUS MAXIMUS (could be worth 118 with 3yo allowance) Won the Dee Stakes over the International trip before sixth in the Epsom Derby and winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes, dropped back to a mile at Royal Ascot in first-time blinkers.
111 KING OF COMEDY (could be worth 118 with 3yo allowance) Frankie Dettori’s mount divided Circus Maximus and Too Darn Hot in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Could reverse the placings over this longer trip.
SECOND LEG: 3.35 York, Thursday (Yorkshire Oaks, Group 1)
127 ENABLE Eleven wins in a row, including both King George and Arc twice, but with Crystal Ocean (gave 3lb) closing her down to only a neck in this year’s King George. Would she have allowed him past her? Can she justify Daqman’s level-peggings 127 for each?
124 MAGICAL Second to Crystal Ocean, second to Enable twice, but a bridesmaid who is so consistent, one slip among the front two and the bouquet is hers.
114 ANAPURNA (could be worth 123 with 3yo allowance) Just four races in her life, including success in the Epsom Oaks. John Gosden has been very patient with her but now needs to know where she stands.
Verdict: Enable is the one facing a crucial test (against Magical) where it was hoped this would be a mere stepping stone to the Arc. Anapurna is in at the deep end, intending that Magical is the one to sink under pressure.
Crystal Ocean seems to have a bigger advantage over his field but, in Regal Reality, he too has a stablemate to help him contain any tactical move from the Ballydoyle warriors, Japan and Circus Maximus.
WANAA WIN AGAIN?
4.30 Kempton This class 3 handicap is the best race on offer on Tuesday afternoon and could be destined to be won by Diocles Of Rome.
Trained by Ralph Beckett, who has had 8 winners from 47 over the last two weeks, Diocles Of Rome was a dual course and distance winner last November and was also a winner on the turf when last tried at this class 3 level at Doncaster in May.
Since then, he has found life tougher in two class 2 handicaps including the valuable Moet & Chandon International Stakes Heritage Handicap at Ascot last time out.
Dropped a pound in the weights and a grade, he should be a lot more competitive here.
Chief danger is probably the fellow four-year-old Lethal Lunch who has top weight and ran well on his first start since being gelded when fourth over course and distance. If finding small improvement from that run he should be a major player.
5.40 Kempton Hardly the biggest shock in the world that trainer David Loughnane has Wanaasah out again so quickly.
A 6lb penalty is hardly going to stop her if we can take her win at Wolverhampton last week at face value. She seemed a different animal on her return to the all-weather – making all the running for a facile, eased down, eight length success.
She has also run well over course and distance previously and in current mood looks worth following until the handicapper has his say.
Sir Prize is chief BETDAQ market rival. He has good form here and is back after a break having not raced since February. He can be given a big chance but the recent form and fitness edge of Wanaasah sways it.
7.25 Yarmouth Roman Spinner remains a maiden on turf – but her effort over course and distance last time out suggests that a first win is imminent.
She was pipped a head by a 33/1 chance and racing off the same handicap mark today should again set a fair standard for the others to aim at.
There are question marks over her chief rivals.
Sir Titan’s wins have come over a mile at Windsor and twice over the roller-coaster contours of Goodwood’s seven furlong course. It might be that this billiard table track might prove too short.
Keepup Kevin was disappointing last time out and his only wins have come with give in the ground.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked to win 10 points)
BET 3.1pts win DIOCLES OF ROME (3.40 Kempton)
BET 7.0pts win (nap) WANAASAH (5.40 Kempton)
BET 2.4pts win ROMAN SPINNER (7.25 Yarmouth)
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