TRUST FOLLY TO MAKE SENSE
Vintage Folly should appreciate both soft ground and a switch back to Listed company in the EBF Stallions John Musker Fillies’ Stakes at Yarmouth tomorrow.
Hugo Palmer’s charge has been limited to just two starts this term after winning on her only juvenile outing last year, but her current rating of 102 is testament to the promise she has shown when conditions are right.
Vintage Folly put her very best foot forward on her seasonal bow in the Musidora at York in May, defying her status as one of the outsiders of the fivestrong field to be beaten just under two lengths by Shutter Speed.
Admittedly the form of that Group Three heat has turned out to be nothing special, but it was still a fine run for such an inexperienced filly.
It is probably best to put a line through her only outing since when she finished a distance last in a Group Two at Saint-Cloud as all was clearly not well that day on what was pretty quick ground.
Given a break since then, Palmer still retains Group One hopes with this daughter of Makfi and the likely testing conditions here should help her get back on the right track and book her ticket for Champions Day at Ascot.
Solo Hunter is another who seemingly shows his better form with a bit of give in the ground and he is one for the shortlist in the Parklands Leisure Holiday Distributors Handicap.
Martyn Meade has been very patient with this sixyear-old and he will be having his third outing of the year here after winning at Windsor in May.
He subsequently pitched up at Sandown in June but perhaps paid the price for making an early bid for home, although the fact he has been off the track since suggests that all was not well on his return.
Clearly it is not ideal to be returning from a lengthy lay-off, but Solo Hunter is good enough on his day to still mount a serious challenge.
Zabeel Prince is another who has seen very little action so far, but he is the pick in the Sea-Deer Handicap.
Winner of one of his two starts for Roger Varian, he was a cut above some average rivals at Nottingham back in May and is interesting switched to handicapping.
It was hard not to be impressed with the taking debut of Il Primo Sole at Yarmouth last month and he can take the next step up the ladder in the Max Patel Wealth Manager Of Choice Conditions Stakes at Sandown.
John Gosden’s charge showed an electric turn of foot on his racecourse bow, setting the early pace before moving up a gear with a furlong to run, leaving his rivals trailing in his wake in a matter of strides.
Only a handful of those also-rans have turned out again since and while they have not exactly boosted the form, Il Primo Sole was far and away the best horse that day and could have won by double the distance or more.
He is entered in the Racing Post Trophy, so connections will surely hope for a win here before taking a hike in class.
Gosden also takes the wraps off another potentially useful juvenile in First Eleven in the Gg.Co.UK Supports The Racehorse Sanctuary EBF Novice Stakes.
A Frankel half-brother to superstar miler Kingman, it will be disappointing if he is not in the shake-up.#
Listed honours are also up for grabs at the Esher venue in the Racehorse Sanctuary Fortune Stakes and Khafoo Shememi catches the eye after winning a similar event earlier in the year.