SPEED FIGURES
Starman tops the latest list of speedsters
NEWMARKET’S July Cup was the race of the month when it came to the clock with STARMAN registering a very respectable 102 in seeing off DRAGON SYMBOL with 100.
Oisin Murphy deserted the winner to ride the second. Starman was convincing in the end under Tom Marquand. He looks a very good Group 1 sprinter over this six-furlong trip but can’t have soft ground which may shut down his autumn options a little.
If he gets good or better he will be able to uphold this form without too much trouble.
Dragon Symbol does handle give in the ground and will probably have to wait until Starman is not in the line-up to score at the highest level. He is clearly capable of it and it’s still early days so improvement should come.
Hats off to INTRINSIC BOND who clocked a huge 100 for a Class 4 Catterick handicap over six furlongs on
July 14. Connections chose not to turn him out under a penalty which means he has been hiked 10lb for such an impressive success.
That means he’ll have to go up in grade but he can cope with that with all ground seeming to come the same.
ASJAD really caught the eye when clocking 98 on his second career start in victory at Doncaster on July 8. That build on his debut success at Salisbury.
He’s bred to be a pattern performer and can take a pretty big step up in grade after this smooth success. There was some give in the ground and his running style made the most of it.
Connections will hopefully keep him away from firm conditions at this early stage of his career.
BICKERSTAFFE (96) did well to win convincingly at Ascot on July 9 after meeting some trouble in running. He was hitting full pelt when forced to switch around runners and was value for more than the two-length official margin. This six-furlong trip is clearly ideal and it was a good performance.
LUSAIL (101) just came out on top of the two-year-old ratings this month after winning the July Stakes at Newmarket.
It was the hottest juvenile race in recent weeks with second
ASYMMETRIC and third SAM MAXIMUS both earning ratings of 100.
There were no excuses from those two despite the tight winning margin. Lusail travelled strongly and always looked to be holding on. Glorious Goodwood surely awaits where the Richmond Stakes look a likely target.
The following day, SANDRINE clocked 100 when winning the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes on the July Course.
She looks ready for the step into Group 1 company now after such a convincing success and she can maintain her unbeaten record wherever she heads next. The Cheveley Park Stakes and Moyglare Stud are both realistic and she could take in the Lowther at York before that.