STAR IN THE MAKING
TRINITY STAR can add funds to the Royal Ascot kitty by winning at Wetherby.
Fortune has deserted the Michael Dods-trained five-year-old of late but that can change for the better when he reports for duty in a mile-and-aquarter handicap in Yorkshire.
The gelded son of Kheleyf has been kept busy since March yet has not found the back of the net in seven starts this year.
Context is required though as he was a little unlucky not to win at Ayr last month when he overcame a tough draw to finish quickly for second place.
Trinity Star was only beaten a head by Gworn and would probably have won within a handful more strides.
The same two horses then renewed rivalry back in Scotland a week later. Gworn upheld the form with a length-and-a-half victory, with Trinity Star fifth.
That again perhaps does not tell the full story as Dods’s inmate was beaten less than two lengths despite having missed the break in a falsely-run encounter.
He also had to be switched for a clean run to the line so that was not a bad effort from a horse who was backed as if defeat was unthinkable.
Trinity Star is 3lb higher at Wetherby but he remains a very well-handicapped animal on his best form. Those losses at Ayr last time can be recouped in a moderate race with the yard in great form.
Manton Grange won pleasingly at Leicester three weeks ago and has the scope for further progress at Windsor.
George Baker’s four-year-old is lightly raced for her age and should not be inconvenienced going back up to a mile in a weak-looking handicap.
Despite Royal Ascot being just a matter of days away there were still some quality horses on show at the weekend, with Paul Midgley taking top training honours at Musselburgh on Saturday.
The Westow trainer is a dab hand with sprinters and his Line Of Reason won the £100,000 William Hill Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap. Just for good measure, Midgley also won the consolation race with Orient Class, worth a not-to-be-sniffed-at £40,000.
Line Of Reason had dropped to an attractive handicap mark but only just got up to nail Harry Hurricane by a neck.
Midgley said: “That was great. He’s always been a good horse but we just lost him for a bit in Dubai (over the winter) and after he came back, it’s just taken a while to get him back.”