IT HAS GOTTA BE MAAMORA
YESTERDAY was a curious day at Newmarket, with the jockeys seemingly keener to find out where the best ground was by splitting into small groups for a number of races. This included the feature juvenile contest, in which a field of six raced in three separate groups across the track.
Hopefully there will be less of this nonsense today, particularly given the competitive nature of the racing.
What evidence there was on the opening day, including the going-stick readings, suggested that the strip nearest the far rail could be the most advantageous turf to race on.
Stiff
And a stiff breeze from the west ought to both help dry the ground after a heavy dew, and also benefit those racing on the pace.
That points to the chances of Simon Crisford’s ( above) MAAMORA (1:50 Newmarket) in the Rosemary Stakes.
Winner of the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes just over a year ago, Maamora would have an excellent chance on that form, and, of course, no longer has to shoulder a penalty.
Maamora has not quite hit the same heights this year, but she showed a lot more dash when a clear second in the Listed Prix De La Cochere - Fonds Europeen De l’Elevage despite not leading and she is definitely at her best when setting her stall out early. Well placed to do so here, she is likely to be overpriced in the second colours of Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, and such horses are regularly underbet.
GLENARTNEY (2:25 Newmarket) looks a big price for the Princess Royal Stakes, assuming she takes her chance.
She shaped best of all when third to Forbearance in the Galtres Stakes at York, and a stiffer mile-anda-half will suit her.
She needs to improve to beat a peak-form Albaflora, but the favourite has not always been the easiest to catch right. While clearly the one to beat, an each-way bet on Ed Walker’s improving daughter of Le Havre looks the way to go. ROMANTIC TIME (3:00 Newmarket) is not bred for speed by any means, so she did very well to win twice at five furlongs.
The form she showed at the minimum trip is use useful, but she im improved markedly for the step up to six in the Dick Poole St Stakes at Salisbury, sta staying on well to be beat a representative fie field in that Group 3 by a length.
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