Salute to Salouen at Newmarket
CLASSIC CLUES are very much the name of the game as Newmarket’s Craven Meeting kicks off and Salouen can be the first to really nail his colours to the Derby mast by winning the bet365 Feilden Stakes.
This nine-furlong heat was the starting point for subsequent Epsom hero Golden Horn a couple of years ago and Sylvester Kirk is obviously keen to follow that blueprint with his classy charge.
Salouen certainly does not boost the same kind of unexposed profile as that horse and you could possibly argue that, after nine juvenile starts, the Canford Cliffs colt holds few secrets any more.
However, Salouen was improving hand over fist towards the end of last term, with Group One placings in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Racing Post Trophy ensuring he signed off with a not inconsiderable mark of 110.
On both occasions Salouen was putting in all his best work at the end, suggesting a step up to middle distances should be well within his compass this term.
This does not appear to be the strongest Feilden we have seen, so it will be disappointing if Salouen cannot get 2017 off to a winning start.
Repercussion is something of a dark horse and he could be worth following in the Plusvital Racing Genepak Handicap.
The Manduro gelding will be making his British debut for Charlie Fellowes after being bought from Godolphin for #40,000 at Goffs last autumn.
Godolphin clearly decided Repercussion was going to fall short of expectations, but he was not entirely devoid of promise during his time with Andre Fabre, winning at Clairefontaine last July and finishing second on each of his three other outings.
Fellowes has made no secret of the fact he has reasonably high hopes for his new recruit and while the handicapper has pitched him in at the deep off 95, Repercussion will need that kind of rating if he is to contest the bigger handicaps this term.
Salsabeel holds a clutch of Classic options at this stage so if he is to tackle events such as those, he really should be winning the EBF Stallions bet365 Conditions Stakes.
The fact Charlie Appleby has decided to run here rather than the European Free Handicap perhaps suggests Godolphin are looking for an easier chance of a winning experience, but nevertheless Salsabeel shaped with a good deal of promise last term.
A winner at Yarmouth despite his notable greenness, he again looked as though he would learn plenty for the experience when second in a Listed heat at Doncaster last September before being put away for the winter.
Buldan has been the subject of some promising gallops whispers and could be the solution to the tricky puzzle that is always the bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes.
Out of dual Group-race winner Meeznah, Buldan will likely prove better over further than this mile trip in time.
Away from Newmarket, Passcode can hit the mark in the totequadpot At Betfred.com Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Southwell.
She finished third at Headquarters on her debut last October after breaking a bit awkwardly and having to steer a less than straight course through the race.
Passcode is surely better than that and this can provide a nice confidence boost.