SPEED FIGURES
Mike Francis was impressed by one stayer this month and pinpoints some Ascot and Epsom prospects
Looking at the fastest horses so far this season
AUSTRIAN SCHOOL got stuck in the mud at Chester but is still one to follow in big staying handicaps after his impressive win at Musselburgh over 1m6f.
He didn’t get much luck in running around the Roodee either and can improve on his already high rating of 111 at up to 2m when the ground is good or quicker.
Dropping back in distance, MUSTASHRY heads to the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on the back of an excellent effort in winning the Lockinge at Newbury on May 18.
Having his first run in a British Group 1, Sir Michael Stoute’s improving six-year-old was good value for the victory and has more to offer at this level.
TEMPLE OF HEAVEN clocked the best two-year-old rating of the month on the same card. He had already won on debut but took a big step forward in beating a useful field in a tight finish. He clocked 106 and looks a colt to follow for Richard Hannon.
CHARLEMINE put in one of the best juvenile performances seen at Brighton for a good while when winning on April 20 over an extended 5f. He clocked 105 for that effort and has some fancy entries for later in the campaign.
He shapes as though stepping up to
6f will bring further improvement and can prove a good deal better than this level in time.
Back in more glamorous surroundings, PERSIAN KING was an impressive winner of the French 2,000 Guineas when handling the soft ground well. He looks as though going further than this mile will help him top the 105 awarded to this performance.
The French Derby looks well within his grasp but he could take in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot over this distance before that.
HEADMAN head to the Hampton Court Stakes with strong claims after running to 104 when winning a decent handicap at Newbury on May 18.
He looks a Pattern performer already and can take the next step up in class in his stride.
We pinpointed TELECASTER as a big Dante threat in last month’s Speed Figures feature and he duly obliged at 7-1 when lowering Too Darn Hot’s colours. He actually ran just below his earlier figure but 104 still represents an excellent effort. Connections should have a serious think about shelling out £85,000 to run him in the Derby.