Eufemia to make it third time lucky in Maiden Stakes

THIRD time lucky for Eufemia in an 11-runner 3-y-o Maiden Stakes over six furlongs of Newcastle tapeta today? I’ll certainly include Amy Murphy’s charge in our eachway daily patent.

Eufemia improved considerably when third to Benny And The Jets over a similar distance on Wolverhampton tapeta 10 days ago, under a positive ride from Hollie Doyle; this Dream Ahead filly led her rivals a merry dance until the 25/1 shot cracked 300 yards and was passed by the eventual winner and Probability, one to monitor closely.

We know Eufemia is capable of much better than any of her rivals have shown to date; to all intents and purposes they have to be classed moderate, including twice-raced, likely short-priced favourite, Kareena Kapoor, trained by Simon Crisford but absent for 107 days. One to make the market for Eufemia!

Others make no appeal whatsoever but we have an Irish raider, Compton’s Finale, and there must be a reason why he’s being journeyed at considerable expense, and Graham Lee has been booked.

underestimate the Irish! Hollie Doyle is booked for rides at Lingfield, claimed by her boss, Archie Watson, and so Alistair Rawlinson rides Eufemia; not a problem, he’s excellent, reliable, with tremendous AWR experience.

Avenue Of Stars should find his way into the winners’ enclosure after the nine-runner ‘aged’ sprint handicap over six furlongs; absolutely ‘thrown-in’ at the weights judged on a hard fought course and distance success back in August, since when this Karen McClintock six-year-old has been beaten five times.

Did that success take too much out of Avenue Of Stars or, like so many others, has it been ‘looked after’ in readiness for a long-term follow up?

In my ‘golden’ spell of owning and backing horses seriously there were plenty of ‘dodges’ available to put punters off the scent; never stopped one on the AWR circuit but changed distances and jockeys to suit my situations.

‘There is more than one way to skin a cat...’ which is an incongruous thought. Where did it come from?

A recent spin on Lingfield polytrack suggests Avenue Of Stars is ready to win again under yet another different jockey, on this sharply contrasting surface!

Earlier Merhoob (below) and Luke Morris look a winning combination for a six-runner ‘aged’ sprint handicap over six furlongs at Lingfield; what beats John Ryan’s previous course and distance scorer will win!

Lingfield, 1.25 Merhoob (e.w); Newcastle, 5.00 Eufemia (nap-e.w); 6.30 Avenue Of Stars (e.w).