VA VA VOOM

Philippart de Foy ace and Benoit set for Bunbury glory

VAFORTINO and boy wonder Benoit de la Sayette are the combination to follow in the bet365 Bunbury Cup (3.50) at Newmarket today.

A two-time winner for Joseph O’Brien, the son of New Bay moved to Kevin Philippart de Foy for his four-year-old campaign, starting out for his new stable with a second at Newcastle at the end of March.

Sticking to seven furlongs, Vafortino went one better in Ascot’s historic Victoria Cup, beating Accidental Agent by half a length, before returning to Berkshire for the Buckingham Palace Handicap at the Royal meeting in the middle of last month.

Vafortino didn’t get the breaks that day – he was short of room at the two-furlong pole and inside the final 100 yards – in coming home in 11th place behind Inver Park.

But the seven-furlong specialist is worth sticking with and, granted clear passage, Vafortino – star apprentice de la Sayette can call on a valuable 5lb allowance

– is taken to show his true colours.

Charlie Appleby usually sends a highranking two-year-old to the bet365 Superlative Stakes (3.15) – the Godolphin trainer has won the Group 2 four times, including the past two runnings – so VICTORY DANCE must be high on the list.

Dubawi’s son had to work to justify odds of 8-11 by a head over course and distance three weeks ago, but Victory Dance is expected to take a giant leap forward on his second visit to the track.

Will Buick (below) has strong claims on a double, set up by GOLDEN SPICE in the Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa Fillies’ Handicap (2.05). A week on from landing the CoralEclipse aboard Vadeni – and copping a 12-day ban for his post-race celebrations – Christophe Soumillon is on course for another ITV Saturday winner, courtesy of LAASUDOOD in the bet365 Mile Handicap (2.40).

At Ascot, Laasudood’s Richard Hannon stablemate

CHINDIT is the horse to be on in the Group 2 Fred Cowley MBE Summer Mile (3.35).

Saddling with the unenviable task of taking on Baaeed on his last two outings – Chindit ran third in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and fourth in Royal Ascot’s Queen Anne Stakes – Pat Dobbs’ partner should find this assignment less daunting.

The Betfred Heritage Handicap (3.00) looks wide open, but ZARZYNI is capable of a bold show.

Successful in a big-field handicap at Musselburgh in mid-April, the David and Nicola Barron five-year-old matched that form with a fourth in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket a fortnight later, and is capable of defying top weight.