Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Sakheer can show his promise at Newbury
SAKHEER can mark himself out as one of the hottest two-year-old prospects if he can land the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury this afternoon.
A touch of inexperience cost Roger Varian’s youngster when a beaten favourite at Windsor on debut, but he made no mistake at the second time of asking when fulfilling the promise of his opening run with a six-length success at Haydock.
It was a performance from the 550,000 euro breeze-up buy that demanded a step up in grade and he looks to have all the attributes to make his mark in this six-furlong Group Two.
Varian won this race in 2019 with Pierre Lapin following his own impressive display at Haydock, so it is interesting Sakheer is attempting to tread a similar path.
Victory today would give connections their second big win in the space of seven days with Varian and David Egan combining to give owners KHK Racing Ltd St Leger glory with Eldar Eldarov at Doncaster last weekend.
There may be further success for the Carlburg Stables handler when Mitbaahy attempts to bounce back in the Dubai International Airport World
Trophy Stakes. Nothing went right for the three-year-old at Goodwood last time, but he was progressive in the early part of the season and a similar effort would put him in the mix in this Group Three assignment at a track which should suit.
Also at Newbury, Lysander could be worth chancing when he goes for Group Three glory in the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Stakes. Although defending champion Solid Stone could prove a tough nut to crack, the son of New Approach was once seen as a Derby prospect and has always been held in high regard by connections.
The nature of his widemargin victory at Newcastle earlier in the season shows there is plenty of talent lurking under the bonnet and he has not been disgraced in Pattern company since.
A touch of class will not go amiss in Ayr’s feature Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap and Charlie Fellowes’ Vadream has plenty on her CV to suggest a bold bid in the prestigious sixfurlong handicap.
Admittedly this season has been more miss than hit for the Group Three winner, who has also placed in a Jersey Stakes and Fred Darling, but there was plenty of encouragement in her performance at Newmarket last time when only beaten a head in the Hopeful Stakes.
That race was given a boost when the third and sixth fought out the finish of the Scarbrough
Stakes during Doncaster’s St Leger Festival, while the fouryear-old will relish any cut in the ground. She is proven over further and that stamina could kick in if there is plenty of pace.
All The Time was finishing fast when attempting to follow up a Chester win at Salisbury last time and looks the pick in the Firth Of Clyde Fillies’ Stakes.