Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Mishriff looking good
MISHRIFF can enhance his glowing reputation with a first domestic Group One success in the CoralEclipse Stakes at Sandown today.
The John and Thady Gosdentrained four-year-old has gone from strength to strength over the last two seasons, winning three times at the top level in France, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.
He burst onto the scene in the French Derby last summer and his wins in the Saudi Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic have seen him climb to the top of the tree.
Those victories have come at distances at nine furlongs, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half - establishing him as a topclass middle-distance performer.
This, though, is the acid test as he has to give weight to the younger generation and a talented three-year-old at that in St Mark’s Basilica, winner of the French Guineas and Derby this season.
But Mishriff can prove up to the mark, as his talent and deterseason, mination hold no bounds. He may well get into a battle, but if he does it is one he can win. His form was given a timely-boost when Chrono Genesis, runnerup to him at Meydan in March, won a big race in Japan last weekend.
Arecibo can land a deserved success in the Coral Charge after a brilliant run in the King’s Stand Stakes. The six-year-old, trained by ‘sprint king’ Robert Cowell, outran his odds of 28-1 to finish second to Oxted at Royal Ascot.
It was only his second attempt in Group-race company this term, but the stiff track suited him and it is a similar scenario at Sandown.
Saaheq struck over this five furlongs three weeks ago and can repeat the trick in the Coral ‘Beaten-By-A-Length’ Free Bet Handicap, while Statement is the one to beat in the Coral Distaff after her good third in the Princess Elizabeth at Epsom.
La Lune’s recent course and distance success gives her strong claims in the bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock.
Henry Candy’s five-year-old has only had nine starts but has been in the form of her life this showing improved form to score on her reappearance at Nottingham and then taking the Group Three Pinnacle Stakes at the Merseyside venue.
La Lune’s victory five weeks ago was a career best and she could easily find more improvement. This Group Two contest looks a good opportunity to find out.
Grand Bazaar could still be unexposed after just the 11 races and connections can exploit that in the bet365 Old Newton Cup.
From the Gosden stable, the four-year-old won three times last season and made a pleasing return after a break of 205 days when a close third behind Zabeel Champion at Newmarket two months ago.
He looks the ideal type for this competitive mile-and-a-half handicap.
Things did not work out for Soapy Stevens at Royal Ascot but he had looked good when winning over this mile and threequarters on his previous start.
The Harzand gelding, trained by Mark Johnston, returns for the bet365 Handicap and the tip should be taken.