Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Mutasaabeq can get in front at Goodwood
MUTASAABEQ can finally oblige for favouritebackers in the William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes at Goodwood this afternoon.
A winner on his return at Thirsk back in April, he has been the beaten market leader in each of three subsequent starts, settling for the minor honours on each occasion.
Beaten a neck in second by Lights On in a Sandown Group Two, he then found Megallan a length and a quarter too good in a Group Three at Epsom before another narrow defeat at the hands of Chindit in the Summer Mile at Ascot.
He had excuses at Sandown, meeting trouble in running, and Epsom, where he patently did not enjoy the track judged on the way he hung, but he had his chance at Ascot and fell short.
All those efforts prove Mutasaabeq is Group Two calibre and he may not get many better chances at this level.
Bright Diamond made quite a splash when hacking up by nine lengths on her racecourse bow at the start of the month and must be on the shortlist in the William Hill Prestige Fillies’ Stakes. It may not pay to get too carried away with that form, but the Karl Burke-trained Bright Diamond could not have impressed more, accelerating away again at the finish despite being the first under pressure, and she might be able to make the Group Three leap here.
The form of Hoo Ya Mal is much easier to assess, with the Derby second tuning up for his planned St Leger run in the William Hill March Stakes.
His Gordon Stakes form is obviously more than decent, with the second Deauville Legend triumphing in style at York last week, and George Boughey has found a good opportunity at Doncaster.
Woolhampton can reverse
Super Sprint form with Eddie’s Boy at Newmarket.
The pair were separated by two and a quarter lengths at Newbury, with Woolhampton defying her 80-1 tag to grab second on the line before again defying a chunky price to chase home a stablemate in a Listed race back at the Berkshire venue earlier this month.
Woolhampton is 5lb better off with Eddie’s Boy this time around and she can hopefully find the required extra.
Vadream can make the most of a drop back to Listed company in the Hopeful Stakes.