Midterm could prove class apart
ONE of the highlights during the early weeks of the Flat season has been the lightning start made by Sir Michael Stoute and it should get even better if Midterm stamps his class all over the Betfred Dante Stakes at York.
After a couple of quiet seasons by his lofty standards, Stoute has started the new campaign with real intent.
Even when at the top of his game Stoute’s string traditionally do not click into gear until the Guineas meeting, but 13 winners during April and a strike-rate of around 30 per cent for the first half of May suggests he has them all ready to rock and roll.
We already know Midterm is fit as he put up a very pleasing display to win the Classic Trial at Sandown, and it depends how romantic you are if you want to read anything into the fact that Shergar took that race for Stoute, too, before landing the big one.
Midterm is famously lazy at home, that is why he was probably sent off at 8-1 for his debut.
But he overcame plenty to win that day and it was very hard not to be impressed by his finishing effort at Sandown, pulling away from Algometer (now rated 109), with eight lengths back to the third, which is usually a good sign.
There are some nice colts taking him on but if Midterm does get beaten, the Derby picture would resemble a jigsaw puzzle without a box.
John Gosden’s horses never seem to need a run so Journey should be pretty straight for the Betfred Middleton Stakes.
She progressed rapidly through the ranks last season, culminating in a fine effort at Ascot on Champions Day when just touched off by Simple Verse.
Outstayed by the St Leger winner that day, despite having already won over a mile and a half, being forcefully ridden over an extended 10 furlongs could be her optimum trip.
It is interesting Gosden throws Exist into Listed company for the British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes, just two weeks after winning an all-weather handicap off 78.
While owners Cheveley Park Stud will be more interested in picking up black type than winning handicaps, the way she won suggests she is ready for this.
David Elsworth’s Master The World shaped nicely first time out at Newmarket and should play a part in the Betfred TV Hambleton Stakes.
Just touched off in the Cambridgeshire last season, he meets the winner, Third Time Lucky, on slightly better terms and with the benefit of that run he can come out on top.
Molten Lava can fire in the Euinsure Handicap at Newmarket.
Paul Cole’s four-year-old likes fast ground and gave a clear indication at Bath last time, when a staying-on second over a mile, that this step back up in trip is just what he wants.
Hitman should go nicely on his handicap debut at Salisbury.
The William Muir-trained threeyear-old was no legend of the turf as a juvenile, but the colt’s last run at Newbury was much more like it.
Hitman only succumbed late on in a decent six-and-a-half-furlong maiden, eventually finished third, but there are races to be won with him on that evidence.
The Bathwick Tyres Salisbury Handicap looks a nice starting point.
Warriors Tale was not a bad hurdler by any stretch of the imagination but it will be interesting to see how he gets on over fences in the DM Hall Novices’ Chase at Perth.