Night In Seattle can turn it around
NIGHT In Seattle can turn Winter Classic form upside down in the Winter Derby at Kenilworth tomorrow.
Corne Orffer’s mount was only sixth in last month’s race but the Winter Classic is a notoriously unreliable guide. No horse has won both races since Pocket Power nine years ago and the last seven favourites (often backed on the strength of their running in the Classic) have all been beaten.
The combination of the extra 600m and softer ground usually proves fatal to the supposed form horse but Night In Seattle’s sixth place did not represent his true ability.
“He got badly interfered with in the Classic,’’ Brett Crawford recalls.’’ He was going as well as the winner but that horse was hanging into him and then another horse came in on him."
Night In Seattle (5-1 in the Betting World forecast) has won in the soft and his dam won over an extended mile and a half in France, suggesting he should get the trip. Royal Dreamer sprang an 81 surprise in the Classic and is forecast 4-1 joint second favourite with Master's Eye.
He is by the sprinter Rebel King and there is a lot more speed than stamina on the dam's side. Seemingly, though, this one is different. “He doesn’ sprint,’’ says Candice Robinson, “and I think he will get the trip. I'm just a bit worried about the pace.’’
She needn’t be because Winter Derby king Stan Elley says: “If there isn’t one we are going to make it with My World and I’m really pleased with the way he is doing.’’
Elley is bidding for his fourth Winter Derby in seven seasons and My World should go well even though his forecast 9-2 looks a bit short.
However he has won in the soft and he is one of only four to have scored over the trip - Even So and the Greg Ennion pair Revved Up and Irish Dynasty are the others.
Liquid Mercury was beaten only three-quarters of a length in the Classic and is forecast 3-1 favourite. Bernard Fayd’Herbe says he gained the impression that the gelding will be better over this trip but he is acutely conscious of his mount’s stamina limitations on pedigree.