Hello & welcome along to the blog once more, hope you are all well. Salisbury's big meeting of the year kicks off on Wednesday with The Listed Upavon Fillies Stakes the feature on Day One. I am fortunate enough to be paying my first visit to the Wiltshire venue on Thursday for the courses big race of the year; The Sovereign Stakes Group 3 over the mile which I am looking forward to immensely.
It's no surprise that the Wiltshire venue is a favourite haunt of The Hannon horses as the yard is just down the road in the village of Collingbourne Ducis. Jockey & trainer lead the standings over the last 5 years at Salisbury although you wouldn't be getting rich backing there runners at the course. James Doyle & Kieran Fallon are the jockey's to watch out for if you want to make a profit with Dave Evans often saddling 1 or 2 big priced winners here to.
A 6f 2yo maiden kicks off the card which is usually the happy hunting ground off Richard Hannon Snr, his son has picked up where he has left off saddling 6 winners from 29 runners awarding him a 29% strike rate with 2yo's at Salisbury this season.
Awjab (Bahamian Bounty x Applause) £80,000 DBS Yearling 2013 First foal, dam a was the winner of 2 races. Half brother to 2 Listed winners (Snippets & Need You Know).
Code Red (Bahamian Bounty x Just Devine) Half brother to 3 winners (Magic Secret / Secret Weapon & End Of Line (Listed placed 2014)).
Desert Force (Equiano x Mail The Desert) Some promise when favourite on debut but did drop away tamely, will know more this time. £140,000 Tatts Book 1 Oct 2013, related to 3 winners. Dam Group 1 winner.
Harlequin Striker (Bahamian Bounty x Air Maze) Placed on last 3 starts at this course, handicap mark of 78.
Little Riggs (Cape Cross x Craighall) Quite a bit of promise on soft ground debut at Windsor, entitled to improve for better ground here. First Foal.
Lysander The Greek (Exceed And Excel x Hector's Girl) 3rd at this course & distance last time, starting to get the hang of things now. Half brother to 4 winners including Class Is Class (Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes plus 2 Listed races).
Oriental Splendour (Strategic Prince x Asian Lady) Showed up well on debut before fading.
Tansfeeq (Aqlaam x Qelaan) Both starts have shown he has limited ability at present although better ground could see an improvement.
Twilight Son (Kyllachy x Twilight Mistress) Half brother to 5 winners including The Confessor & Music Master (Hackwood Stakes Group 3).
Hound Music (Ashkalani x Saffron Fox) Limited ability in 2 starts to date so far, tough task taking on the boys.
Shaw Ting (Winker Watson x Shawhill) Dam 2nd in a Listed race at Le' lion D'Angers in 2007.
Race two on the card is a 6 runner Nursery which looks fiendishly difficult.
Most punters will be on Darshini who won his maiden on his 2nd start comfortably last time out, a mark of 79 looks lenient in this contest.
Last time out Nursery winner Grigolo could give him most to do, he has gone up 6lbs since a win at Goodwood on his Nursery debut. He is bred to appreciate the mile & was not stopping last time out.
Red Rebel won his maiden last time out & has been allotted a mark of 78 for his Nursery debut, no reason why he can't get involved.
The further Groor goes the better he will get, he won a maiden last time after finishing 2nd in a Nursery when favourite. Big Chill has been consistent in maidens but this is a tough looking race despite the small field.
When Will It End shoulders top weight after 2 wins in maiden & Nursery company. He was a bit unlucky at Goodwood behind Grigolo last time giving him 8lbs. The difference is just 4lbs on Wednesday so he still has work to do to turn that form around.
Not a race I would bet in.
A good looking 1 mile race for 3yo's is up next; Jailawi's form really does not look good enough for him to be shouldering top weight so he has it all to do.
Monsea has been badly outclassed in better grade handicaps so far this season, he will appreciate the drop in class & is now 3lbs below his last winning mark.
Bowie Boy ran extremely well in a slightly better class last time out but has paid for it in the weights & faces some less exposed rivals here.
Between Wickets won a very weak Chester maiden in an extremely slow time on his penultimate start, he showed very little back in a handicap last time & despite the addition of a hood has work to do. Rogue Wave didn't enjoy the run of the race last time at Epsom so that is best forgiven, on his previous start at Newcastle an excellent 2nd he can be given a chance in this with his stable showing signs of a revival.
Potentate (not the former Grade 1 winning hurdler of yesteryear) still looks well handicapped on his last gasp win at Epsom last time out, genuine fast ground seems to be his bag so he should give another bold sight here.
Tercel hadn't been seen since the Wood Ditton in the spring (gelding operation) before being driven out to win over the mile at Sandown last time, looks leniently handicapped on his pedigree & what he has shown so far, big player.
Grevillea has been banging her head against a brick wall in some top 3yo handicaps this year, she has slipped to her last winning mark of 77 as a result & looks sure to get involved.
Fiftyshadesofgrey would be a doubtful stayer on breeding & will do well to get involved. Inspector Norse pulled too hard last time but was still disappointing, he looks a stayer as he broke his maiden over 9f at Epsom needing all of that trip.
Tercel must go very close in this.
The big race on Day one of the 2 day meeting is the Listed Upavon Fillies Stakes over 10f's. The Classic generation have dominated in recent years winning 6 renewals, fancied runners do extremely well in this event with no horse winning at bigger than 13/2 in the last 10 years. Fillies rated between 98 - 105 have won in the last 10 years.
Albasharah has not been seen since unseating her rider at the start over a year ago at York, she had been steadily progressive in this type of grade previously. All her best form so far has come with cut & its a big ask after so long off the track.
Gifted Girl has been struggling of late after an excellent 2013 when she progressed from handicaps to finish 2nd in The Beverly D Grade 1, if she came back to anywhere near her best she would take the beating.
Lady Pimpernel won a slowly run small field handicap last time out, she has too much to do on figures & even a place for black type looks beyond her.
Princess Loulou was progressive on soft ground in the spring before finishing well adrift of Integral at Royal Ascot, step up in trip should be ok but ground is a concern unless it rains which it is forecast to do.
Ribbons has been kept to races of this grade for awhile now, she has plenty of class & latent ability. She has been off since her last 2nd at Ascot in May presumably with a slight problem. She has gone well fresh in the past & with the trip in her favour she must go well.
Tearless represents the in & out Charlie Appleby side of the Godolphin operation, she has been impressive on both her career starts to date last time her over course & distance. This requires another step up but on her last run she is at least Listed Class, must be a involved if continuing to go forward.
Vanity Rules has so far yet to prove she is up to this grade, at least in such a competitive field such as this one.
Lustrous was well put in her place in The Nassau last time as she had been the time before in The Irish Oaks. On her Ribblesdale 2nd she is the filly they all have to beat but I struggle to take that form literally even though the winner somehow managed to follow up in The Irish Oaks before being retired. At least she has won at Listed level but I am concerned she has had 3 quite hard races in quick succession.
Crowley's Law hated the way the race was run last time at Sandown, she needs a good pace to aim at as she showed when rattling up a quick fire double earlier in the year. She stay this 10f trip fine & has looked at least Listed Class on both her wins this season. Versatile regards ground which is a plus looking at the weather forecast.
Kleo steps up from handicaps on a hat trick after easily winning at York in a decent fillies race, looks worth a go in this grade. Mutatis Mutandis continues on the hunt for black type which has so far proved beyond her & I cannot see that changing here.
My Spirit needed all of Ryan Moore's strength to get up & complete the hat trick when last seen at the end of June at Newbury, the runner up & 6th that night have won since. On what I saw that night she will need more in this but is respected being an improving filly from her stable. Pelerin was disappointing when last seen at Newcastle in June when favourite for a similar race to this, she had 4 hard races in a relatively quick space of time before that & can be forgiven that run. I would be surprised if she could maintain her advantage over Crowley's Law (seasonal debut & unlucky in running) this time though after easily beating her at Thirsk earlier in the season. Veiled Intrigue doesn't strike me as a filly that wants 10f's on her run style or on breeding, she would do well to get involved even if by some miracle she did stay.
Decent little fillies Listed race in which I will be sticking with the Classic generation in the shape of Crowley's Law.
The last 2 races on the card wouldn't be ones I'd like to get involved let alone talk about but check back on Wednesday afternoon for Thursday's preview.
@fttfracing
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