The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Trinity Star tipped to end run of hard luck stories Dods’ inmate looks well handicapped to open his account for year
TRINITY STAR can add funds to the Royal Ascot kitty by winning at Wetherby.
Fortune has deserted the Michael Dods-trained five-year-old of late, but that can change for the better when he reports for duty in a mile-and-a-quarter handicap in Yorkshire.
The gelded son of Kheleyf has been kept busy since March, yet he has not found the back of the net in seven starts this year.
Context is required, though, as he was a little unlucky not to win at Ayr on May 24 when he overcame a tough draw to finish quickly for second place.
Trinity Star was only beaten a head by Gworn and would probably have won had the race stretched out a handful more strides.
The same two horses then renewed rivalry back in Scotland a week later.
Gworn upheld the form with a lengthWillbeme and-a-half victory, with Trinity Star back in fifth.
That, again, perhaps does not tell the full story as Dods’ inmate was beaten less than two lengths, despite having missed the break in a falsely-run encounter.
He also had to be switched for a clean run to the line, so that was not a bad effort from a horse who was backed as if defeat was unthinkable.
Trinity Star is 3lb higher at Wetherby today but he remains a very wellhandicapped animal on his best form.
Those losses at Ayr last time can be recouped in a moderate race with the yard in great form of late.
WILLBEME has not won for three years but there are seedlings of cautious optimism ahead of a six-furlong handicap at Carlisle.
The nine-year-old mare is now in training with Simon West, for whom she made a decent debut at Haydock a few weeks ago.
will not have appreciated the soft ground on Merseyside, nor was she particularly in her element over seven furlongs.
Be that as it may, she still shaped with a hint of verve to take third place behind Courier, so it appears the change of scenery has done her no harm.
The hope is that a return to a shorter distance on a brisker surface will stir the fires within her belly off a humble mark of 65 given she was rated 98 at her peak. SELECTIONS CARLISLE: 2.00 Ghost Serge, 2.30 World Power, 3.00 Willbeme, 3.30 Maulesden May, 4.00 Ellaal, 4.30 Contentment, 5.00 Solo Mission. WETHERBY: 2.15 Indomeneo, 2.45 Tor, 3.15 TRINITY STAR (NAP), 3.45 Al Nafoorah, 4.15 Steal The Scene, 4.45 Secret Memories, 5.15 Culloden, 5.50 Lizzy’s Dream.
DOUBLE: Trinity Star and Willbeme.