Augustus to hit the heights
MT AUGUSTUS caught the eye in the latter stages of his Sandown debut and should now be streetwise enough to make his presence felt in the 188bet.co.uk EBF Peter Willett Maiden Stakes at Goodwood.
This #25,000 contest is restricted to juveniles who were sired by horses who won over a mile and a half or further during their own racing careers, a concept which in theory gives youngsters with less precocious pedigrees a chance to strike gold at two.
Mt Augustus, a son of Champs Elysees, looked very much in need of the experience on his first day at school last month.
Henry Candy’s charge was green in the preliminaries, on the way to post and for much of the one-mile contest, but there was genuine promise in the way he came home to finish fourth behind the impeccably-bred Dubhe, a son of Dubawi out of top-class racemare Great Heavens.
Mt Augustus should have a much better idea of what is required this time and as long as the quicker conditions do not catch him out, he looks sure to be involved at the business end of proceedings.
Mark Johnston invariably does well with his runners on the Sussex Downs and it would be no surprise to see Faithful Promise get back on the winning trail in the Docker Hughes Fillies’ Nursery Handicap.
The Acclamation filly has won twice from eight starts, landing lowkey events at Musselburgh and Catterick, and has also filled the runnerup spot on a couple of occasions.
She beaten just half a length in a valuable race at Newmarket a month ago and the form has been well advertised with the third, Queen Penn, winning since.
Faithful Promise failed to make an impact in a fiercely competitive heat at York’s Ebor Festival, but has far less on her plate this time and looks bound to go well.
Bombay looks banker material in the opening Always Trying Maiden Stakes at Hamilton.
A rare runner for former leading owner Sir Robert Ogden these days, the David O’Meara-trained colt found only the more experienced Musical Terms too strong on his introduction at Ripon just over a week ago.
Musical Terms is rated a very solid 78, so that was a decent effort from Bombay first time up and a reproduction of that performance should see him come home in front.
Made Of Honour gets the nod in the EBF Stallions Flower Of Scotland Fillies’ Handicap.
Karl Burke’s filly ran into Epsom Derby fifth and Royal Ascot hero Benbatl on her debut at Doncaster in the spring, but was clear of the rest.
She ran well again on Town Moor when third a few weeks later and it was no surprise to see her making it third time lucky at Ayr in late May.
Made Of Honour has not been seen since, but makes her return and handicap debut off what looks a workable mark for a yard enjoying an excellent campaign.
Creek Walk rates the best bet at Kempton’s evening meeting in the 32Red Casino Maiden Stakes.
Many Irish racegoers will head for the beach as Laytown stages its only fixture in the calendar.
Korbous won the O’Neills Sports (Q.R.) Handicap at last year’s meeting and must have every chance of successfully defending his crown after finishing second three times on the bounce on the grass at Leopardstown this summer.