Highland Avenue on right track
HIGHLAND AVENUE made quite a start to 2021 at Kempton in January and he can confirm that favourable impression with victory in the ‘Road To The Kentucky Derby’ Conditions Stakes back at the Sunbury venue.
Charlie Appleby’s charge is bred to be pretty smart as a son of the exceptional sire Dubawi out of Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lumiere, but he let his supporters down at the first attempt when a beaten odds-on favourite.
Admittedly he only went down by a neck against a more experienced rival, so it was no surprise to see him sent off at skinny odds again on his second attempt.
Highland Avenue had clearly learnt plenty for his debut, making all over a mile before coasting home with five and a half lengths over stablemate, Silent Film, who has subsequently hit the target himself.
The form might not have been exceptional, but Highland Avenue was a cut above and his Irish Derby entry underlines his potential.
Master The Stars returns from a lengthy absence in the Groundsweek Handicap having shown a fair bit of ability last summer.
The four-year-old won one of his five starts last year, triumphing in comfortable fashion in what appeared to be a competitive heat at Newcastle last July.
A couple of previous or subsequent winners were in behind that day, but the handicapper did not go mad with a 4lb rise and he only just failed to follow up against an older, more experienced horse next time.
Two more placed efforts followed before Master The Stars embarked on a break at the end of September bowing out with a rating of 89 and undergoing a gelding operation in the autumn.
Ed Dunlop’s runner still appears to be on a favourable mark and if he can return ready for action, he has plenty in his favour.
Her Way can improve for her debut in the Unibet Casino Deposit #10 Get £40 Bonus Novice Stakes.
She was hardly fancied as an 18-1 shot on her first attempt and while a
seven-and-a-half-length fourth is nothing special, it was not a bad effort and her rider was far from hard on her in the finish.