Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Siskin can handle big occasion
SISKIN is more than capable of protecting his unblemished record in a remarkably strong renewal of the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket today.
The son of First Defence began a so-far flawless year when winning on his debut in a maiden at Naas.
His next step was a foray into Listed company at the Curragh, where his class began to emerge as he took the Marble Hill Stakes by two-and-a-half lengths.
The Group Two Railway Stakes followed over the same course and distance and provided a third successive win – with some ease from fellow Middle Park contender Monarch Of Egypt.
The two met again at the Curragh last month, on soft ground for the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes – in which Siskin prevailed again, by three-quarters of a length.
He faces a line-up stacked with potential and no small achievement already. It includes Andre Fabre’s French raider Earthlight, runaway York winner Mums Tipple and Champagne Stakes hero Threat – both representing Richard Hannon.
But Siskin has proved he can handle the big occasion and varying ground, which may yet be handy given a still uncertain forecast.
The Cambridgeshire card gets under way with an intriguing edition of the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes. Several appeal strongly here as long-term prospects for next year – none more so than Kameko, who may prove the boss on this occasion.
Andrew Balding’s colt runs in the Qatar Racing colours worn, among others, by the brilliant but ill-fated Roaring Lion. Balding may well have similar aspirations on the track for the son of Kitten’s Joy.
Victory this weekend is not necessarily critical to those plans, against opponents such as Highland Chief, Pyledriver and Surf Dancer, who have all performed with great promise in their so far short careers, too. But Kameko may just be a step ahead of them at this stage, following his highly-encouraging maiden victory and then tenacious effort to finish runner-up in a Group Three on his return to Sandown late last month.
It is class all the way at Headquarters, and the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes is the juvenile fillies’ chance to earn Group One-winning status. As befits elite standard, Raffle Prize is unlikely to find it easy against another deep field – but two successive Group Two wins and then a neck second against the colts behind Earthlight at the top level in France make Mark Johnston’s filly a most worthy favourite.
Frankie Dettori will be riding her for the fourth time, and the Italian also has a shot at pulling off a second consecutive success in the headline bet365 Cambridgeshire Handicap. Dettori had plenty to spare on John Gosden’s Wissahickon 12 months ago, and the same partnership bid to follow up with Lord North.