STOUTE QUENCHES 1ST
ZAINHOM could deliver for Sir Michael Stoute in the Matchbook Traders Conference Heron Stakes at Sandown today.
He returned to action in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury which was a rock solid renewal with the winner Barney Roy finding only Churchill too good in the 2000 Guineas. As well as that, runner-up Dream Castle rates better than his fifth in the Newmarket Classic.
Stoute’s runner travelled well for much of the journey and is entitled to do better still for that.
So Mi Dar may have had to bypass an intended run at York last week but can make up for lost time by winning the Matchbook Brigadier Gerard Stakes.
The four-year-old’s planned Knavesmire outing was scuppered by rain.
John Gosden’s charge is pretty versatile in terms of underfoot terrain but there is no doubt she goes well on a sound surface and despite her trainer’s hand being slightly forced, it is encouraging to see her take on the colts.
Her resume shows just one reverse, when narrowly beaten in the Prix de l’Opera at Chantilly on Arc day. She was only half a length away, though.
While she might need a mile and a half to be seen at her optimum if tackling the very best this season, her obvious class should see her through this engagement before her sights are raised again.
Sound And Silence is hard to oppose in the Better Odds With Matchbook National Stakes.
Charlie Appleby’s first two-year-old winner of the season looked all speed at Newmarket, in what was quite an impressive performance, despite the winning margin only being a narrow one.
Ground conditions should be ideal and Appleby has his string in rattling good form, so this race looks just up his alley before hopefully going on to Ascot to star.
SOVEREIGN DEBT will be seen next at Epsom on Derby day when he runs in the Investec Diomed Stakes.
A revelation since joining Ruth Carr, his last two outings have seen the eight-year-old pick up nearly £150,000 in prize-money.
He won the All-Weather Mile Final on Good Friday and then produced a career best to land the Group Two Sandown Mile.
Carr said: “We’re going to take him down to Epsom on Derby day for the Group Three over an extended mile. He’ll have a 5lb penalty for his Group Three but he’ll take his chance.”