Speed figures
How they areshaping up in the new Flat season
THE clock would suggest that it’s too soon to write off MUTASAABEQ (109) despite his midfield performance in the 2,000 Guineas. The time of his maiden at Newmarket in April is the biggest figure since the season started and implies that there is more to come. His lack of experience proved costly in the rough and tumble of the Guineas and he looks capable of landing a Group contest this season.
He has an entry in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot which may be a little optimistic but Charlie Hills is more than capable of improving this kind of horse quickly and a slightly more modest target could pay dividends.
Frankie Dettori gave FALCON EIGHT (105) a peach to win the Chester Cup after sweeping around the field to win with lots left in the tank.
Despite being six, he is relatively lightly raced and Dermot Weld is a master with stayers. The Ascot Stakes or Queen Alexandra at the Royal meeting would seem an obvious next target given how well he saw out the extended 2m2f around the Roodee.
GROVE FERRY (100) could be the other horse to take out of Chester’s May meeting.
He was value for much more than the three-quarter length winning margin in taking a hot handicap over an extended seven furlongs. He had the usual barging match around the tight track and enjoyed coming off a strong pace after missing the kick — something that’s usually fatal around here.
The handicapper has been quite fair with a 4lb rise in the weights and it would be no surprise to see him strike in a big field this season.
STARMAN (97) is a horse to follow after winning the Duke Of York Stakes in good fashion. He was coming back from seven months off and travelled smoothly before having enough left to hold off NAHAARR (96) who had a run under his belt.
Ed Walker’s winner will clearly improve fitness-wise for this and both horses should be enjoying success in what looks a fairly weak sprinting division this season.
Looking at the early two-year-old skirmishes, a novice contest at York on May 12 looks a race to watch. PROJECT DANTE (102) just got the better of KORKER (101) and JADHLAAN (100) in a tight finish.
All three showed willing in the closing stages and each of them can take a major step forward from this first run. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Jadhlaan turned out to be the pick given that he was extremely green after showing a lot of early pace.
CHIPOTLE (102) is another top prospect who followed a debut win at Doncaster in March with an impressive success at Ascot at the end of April.