GRECIA LOOKS SET FOR WIN
Magna Grecia can continue Aidan O’Brien’s dominance of the Vertem Futurity Trophy by taking the final Group One race of the domestic season at Doncaster.
O’Brien has captured this prestigious prize eight times, with such future stars as High Chaparral, Camelot and Saxon Warrior last year to be just two behind the record set by the late Sir Henry Cecil.
As usual, the Ballydoyle trainer had plenty to choose to represent him and Magna Grecia looks the pick of the bunch.
The Invincible Spirit colt is the type of late maturing horse that fits the bill for the Town Moor showpiece, with one eye very much on next year.
Magna Grecia made his debut only four weeks ago over seven furlongs at Navan, where he won in tidy fashion.
He had his second start two weeks later and stepped up considerably on his first effort. However, he lost out by a neck to the more experienced French raider Persian King in the Group Three Autumn Stakes.
He stayed the mile well enough that day and, with plenty of improvement to come, he can go into his winter quarters as a possible Classic contender for 2019.
Beat Le Bon could not quite peg back Summer Daydream in the Redcar Two Year Old Trophy, but Richard Hannon’s youngster can make amends by defying top weight to open his account in the Scott Dobson Memorial Nursery Handicap.
Ripp Orf, trained by David Elsworth, can gain compensation for missing the cut in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot on Champions Day last weekend with victory in the crown hotel-bawtry.com Optional Claiming Handicap.
Young Rascal got back on track with a hard-fought victory over seasoned campaigner Mirage Dancer at Newbury, and can follow up back at the same track in the Teddington Royal British Legion Stakes - formerly known as the St Simon Stakes.
That was his first run since being beaten in the Derby, and the William Haggas-trained colt can again benefit from having a less arduous season than most of his rivals.
Chairman of the board could not have made a better racecourse debut when bolting up by eight lengths just two weeks ago at Goodwood, and Mick Channon’s youngster is worth considering for the Molson Coors Stakes - registered as the Horris Hill Stakes.
The once-raced Zofelle made a fine impression when dominating a mid-summer Doncaster maiden with ease from a subsequent winner and Group campaigner.
Hugo Palmer’s filly is interesting in the Listed Byerley Stud Stakes.