Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Ray can shine and give John a Major boost
BY MIRROR REPORTER
SUNRAY MAJOR can make the most of a drop in class in the Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock today.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained entire is lightly-raced for a five-yearold but is beginning to make up for lost time.
Unraced at two he made a winning debut in June 2020 only to be beaten at odds-on a few weeks later, after which he was put away.
He did not reappear until September when, after a break of over
400 days, he absolutely bolted up at Chelmsford.
The clue was in the fact
Frankie Dettori had gone racing on a Thursday night and he certainly did not disappoint, and neither did he when he won at Ascot a few weeks later.
Since then he has had excuses. In the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day he was bogged down in soft ground, on his reappearance at Sandown over a mile he just looked in need of a run and then he probably ran as well as could be expected in the Lockinge.
He was never going to put a dent in Baaeed but Sunray Major stuck to his task gamely and was only beaten seven lengths.
The handicapper rated it a careerbest effort, putting him up 4lb, and dropping down in class and trip for this Group Three over seven furlongs he can return to winning ways.
Given how disappointing Dragon Symbol was on his first run for Roger
Varian at York it is quite easy to pass him over in the Betfred Nifty Fifty Achilles Stakes.
Unraced at two, Dragon Symbol made giant strides last year and was first across the line in the Commonwealth Cup only to be placed second by the stewards.
There was a suggestion at York that he may not have trained on and the spoils may go to his former trainer Archie Watson with Tabdeed.
Since leaving Owen Burrows the seven-year-old has run two satisfactory races and at his best he would be good enough to win this.
Parr Fire looks worth an interest in the Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley.
A debut winner at Doncaster when she did little right, she must have a decent-sized engine.
Nigel Tinkler would not be renowned for first time juvenile winners so you would think she can only improve for her debut and having drawn stall three she should not be far from the action on the rail.
Andrew Balding’s (inset) Chateau could prove tough to beat in the Bet365 Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes.
He took the eye when third on debut at Salisbury and the winner of that race has gone in again since.
Balding’s Spirit Mixer can bring up his hat-trick in the tote.co.uk Proud To Support Chester Racecourse Handicap and set up a crack at the Northumberland Plate.