TRUST IN SO BELOVED
David O’Meara’s golden touch with thoroughbreds can once again come to the fore when So Beloved competes in the Doom Bar Supreme Stakes at Goodwood tomorrow.
The six-year-old gelding won this Group Three over seven furlongs 12 months ago and there is not a great deal of reason to suggest he will not go close in pursuit of a significant double.
O’Meara’s inmate showed laudable grit to deny Here Comes When by a head in last year’s renewal and he will need to be of a similar mind-set as a good field has been declared.
But So Beloved arrives back in Goodwood in fine fettle after finishing a stout second behind the Group One-class Nemoralia, who was in receipt of plenty of weight, in the City of York Stakes last Friday.
Before that, his trainer felt he was in such good order that the son of Dansili was given the chance to shine in the Sussex Stakes.
He did not appear to get home that day, finishing seventh but beaten under five lengths, so it is hardly a shock to see him back over seven furlongs.
Seemingly at home on any variants of ground, this could be his big day back in the spotlight.
Orewa can preserve his unbeaten record at Beverley by winning the Racing UK HD Nursery Handicap.
Brian Ellison’s youngster made quite a big impression on East Yorkshire racegoers when he neatly claimed back-to-back victories on his first two career outings.
He did not quite set the world alight at Pontefract next time up, but perhaps six furlongs was a bridge too far, while the winner that day, Yalta, ended up in the Nunthorpe.
Orewa hardly looked inspired on his handicap debut at York in July, but that was a hot enough race, too.
The handicapper has since intervened, taking off an important 4lb, while the gelded son of Helmet’s fondness for Beverley must surely stand him in much better stead.
Folkswood will not be too far away in the toteexacta The Better Value Forecast Handicap at Yarmouth.
Third behind the useful Mustashry in a strong handicap over a mile at Ascot in July, everything points towards this step up to mile and a quarter being a good piece of business.
There are lots of good races at Curragh, as always, where Somehow can steal the show in the Group Three Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes over nine furlongs.
The three-year-old filly has danced every dance this season – she competed in both the English and Irish Oaks – and was not beaten far at this level at Cork on August 2.
This drop in distance might just do the trick for a horse who gets weight from plenty of her rivals.