Max Vega can spring Yorkshire surprise
Age looked to have finally caught up with Stradivarius on occasions last season and with that in mind, he is worth taking on with Max Vega in the Paddy Power Yorkshire Cup tomorrow.
Now an eight-year-old, Stradivarius has been a great servant to the sport and a terrific advert for John and Thady Gosden, but the baton appeared to have been passed on last year with Trueshan now the preeminent staying force.
Alan King’s charge sidesteps this York contest due to quick ground and while Dermot Weld’s dual Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song adds another dimension, she is certainly not unbeatable.
That leaves Max Vega as a candidate to spring something of a surprise for Ralph Beckett, with race fitness on his side.
This Group Two feature requires another step forward as his reappearance victory over Raymond Tusk at Newbury in the John Porter still leaves him short of the re- quired standard to win this, but for a stayer he is still quite unexposed and he certainly looked as though he would take a step forward for that return.
The five-year-old Max Vega made his debut in September 2019, by which time Stradivarius had already won this race twice, the Gold Cup at Ascot twice, and three Goodwood Cups, which gives context to the size of his task, but Beckett’s charge could now just be hitting his peak with a switch back up in trip no issue.
Daytona Lady looked a very sharp type when winning on debut and can remain unbeaten in the Knights Solicitors British EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes
Being by Bungle Inthejungle, she was always likely to be an early type and that is exactly what she looked at Chelmsford. Her trainer Sean Woods is starting to really make his mark now since his move back from Hong Kong and this filly could be a genuine Royal Ascot contender should she come through this test.
Red-hot Ryan Moore was on board for her debut, which she won by a ready three and a quarter lengths, and it was noteworthy the former champion jockey had his name chalked up alongside again at the five-day stage, however, with Kyprios running in the Saval Beg, he heads over to Leopardstown. James Doyle steps in, so there are no worries on that score.
The form might not amount to much as the second was beaten at Hamilton on Sunday, but Daytona Lady can only improve for her first run. Moore was also on board Grand Dame when she made a winning debut at Ascot last month and Frankie Dettori takes over in the saddle in the Oaks Farm Stables Fillies’ Stakes, better known as the Michael Seely.