Stratum heading to York
STRATUM landed some mega bets when he romped home in the JLT Cup at Newbury on Saturday.
The two-mile trip proved perfect for the five-year-old Irish raider who had previously finished third of 19 to his stablemate Lagostovegas at Royal Ascot over two and a half miles.
Willie Mullins bought Stratum for
£168,000 at the end of the 2016 Flat season. His record that year for John Gosden was
2223122, his win coming in a Windsor maiden over 10 furlongs.
Stratum’s next task will be to win the Ebor at York next month, a mission that looks distinctly possible – he will certainly be my nap, if he runs.
Sadly his Ebor odds are less than half what they were on Saturday morning. BoyleSports initially cut him from 14-1 to
7-1 but eager punters quickly latched onto those odds. He is now 6-1 favourite.
“Stratum’s JLT triumph at Newbury has seen fresh support for him,” said the firm’s spokesman Aoife Heffron. “Having been 20-1 just last week, some punters are sitting on some very nice bets ahead of York’s valuable handicap.”
Robert Winston will expect to keep the ride after making Stratum’s owner, Tony Bloom, ‘six figures’ richer.
“It all went to plan,” said the winning jockey. “He had a hood and grackle-bit on, which helped him settle and he had a much faster pace.
“He got into a lovely rhythm and it was just a matter of when I was going to get a gap in the straight. I came there with plenty in hand and he quickened nicely.
“He was far too keen at Ascot, when there was a muddling pace. This is a stepping stone to, I think, the Ebor. I don’t think dropping another two furlongs will be a problem and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet.”
Bloom, who can count Brighton FC among his many assets, also has the second in the Ebor betting – Withhold. He was bought out of Charlie Hills’ yard for £178,500 at the same autumn sales at Newmarket, an hour after Stratum was knocked down to Mullins.
Withhold has gone on to land massive gambles in the Cesarewitch and the Northumberland Plate.
Karl Burke-trained Havana Grey sprang a surprise in the Group Two Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.
A Group Three winner as a youngster, Havana Grey (10-1) had failed to trouble the judge in his two previous runs this season but got his act together in the five-furlong dash.
Mick Appleby’s Caspian Prince followed Havana Grey home. Michael Dods’ Mabs Cross was a close third.
Winning jockey PJ McDonald said: “For some reason or another, he just wasn’t firing early on in the year. We knew it was a tough task taking on older sprinters and his first couple of runs were always going to be difficult. Fair play to Karl, he didn’t panic and let him come good.”
Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien took the other Group Two on the card with Magical.