3 minute read
Sunray Major can make the most of a drop in class in the Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained entire is lightly-raced for a five-year-old but is beginning to make up for lost time.
Unraced at two he made a winning debut in June 2020 only to be beaten at odds-on a few weeks later, after which he was put away.
He did not reappear until September just gone when, after a break of over 400 days, he absolutely bolted up at Chelmsford.
The clue was in the fact Frankie Dettori had gone racing on a Thursday night and he certainly did not disappoint, and neither did he when he won at Ascot a few weeks later.
Since then he has had excuses. In the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day he was bogged down in soft ground, on his reappearance at Sandown over a mile he just looked in need of a run and then he probably ran as well as could be expected in the Lockinge.
He was never going to put a dent in Baaeed but Sunray Major stuck to his task gamely and was only beaten seven lengths.
The handicapper rated it a career-best effort, putting him up 4lb, and dropping down in class and trip for this Group Three over seven furlongs he can return to winning ways.
The Betfred Pinnacle Stakes could go the way of in-form William Haggas with Sea La Rosa.
With Ralph Beckett's Albaflora, who acquitted herself very well in a couple of Group One contests last season not declared, the Group Three has an open look to it.
Sea La Rosa arrives on the back of a career-best effort last time out, winning a Lingfield Listed race by over four lengths.
Having initially looked disappointing, failing to win in her first three races, she has now won three of her last five and is clearly on the up.
Haggas is operating at an astonishing strike-rate of over 40 per cent, astonishing in the fact he has won two Group Ones through Baaeed and Alenquer, the German Guineas with Maljoom and a host of Listed races.
Haggas has strong claims in the Betfred Double Delight Handicap, too, with Mahrajaan.
Having won three on the bounce last season his winning run ended when he was third over a mile and three-quarters in a hot handicap at York.
The winner that day, Surrey Gold, is now 9lb higher but it appears Haggas feels it was a lack of stamina that beat him as he is back over a mile and a half.
Given how disappointing Dragon Symbol was on his first run for Roger Varian at York it is quite easy to pass him over in the Betfred Nifty Fifty Achilles Stakes.
Unraced at two, Dragon Symbol made giant strides last year and was first across the line in the Commonwealth Cup only to be placed second by the stewards.
There was a suggestion at York that he may not have trained on and the spoils may go to his former trainer Archie Watson with Tabdeed.
Since leaving Owen Burrows the seven-year-old has run two satisfactory races and at his best he would be good enough to win this.
Parr Fire looks worth an interest in the Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley.
A debut winner at Doncaster when she did little right, she must have a decent-sized engine.
Nigel Tinkler would not be renowned for first time juvenile winners so you would think she can only improve for her debut and having drawn stall three she should not be far from the action on the rail.
Andrew Balding's Chateau could prove tough to beat in the bet365 Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes.
He really took the eye when third on debut at Salisbury and the winner of that race has gone in again since under a penalty.
Balding's Spirit Mixer can bring up his hat-trick in the tote.co.uk Proud To Support Chester Racecourse Handicap and set up a crack at the Northumberland Plate.
Another trainer not known for winning with juveniles first time out is Ralph Beckett so the fact his Sunny Orange did so, when the yard was struggling for winners, bodes very well ahead of his second run in the Whitsbury Manor Stud British EBF Novice Stakes at Salisbury.
Paul Midgely is emerging from a quiet spell so his Mid Winster is of interest in the Hawes Meets Dingwal! Steve White Memorial Handicap at Catterick.
Mark Johnston never follows the crowd and has spied a £30,000 race for his filly Centre Court at Chelmsford, against the colts. A winner on debut she could be another bargain-buy.
SELECTIONS:
BEVERLEY: 1.30 All Go, 2.05 Parr Fire, 2.40 Arranmore, 3.15 Chateau, 3.50 Alphonse Le Grande, 4.25 Sudona, 5.00 Lady Lou
CATTERICK: 1.51 O'Reilly's Pass, 2.29 Desert Team, 3.04 Mid Winster, 3.39 Langholm, 4.14 Yasmin From York, 4.49 Grant Me Serenity, 5.24 Redrosezorro.
CARTMEL: 2.09 Ottoman Style, 2.44 See The Sea, 3.19 An Tailliur, 3.54 Grisbi De Berce, 4.29 Brelan D'As, 5.04 Kauto Riko, 5.39 Dee Star.
CHELMSFORD: 2.25 Kobra, 3.00 Centre Court, 3.35 One More Olly, 4.10 San Isidro, 4.45 Dutch Decoy, 5.20 Dors Toyboy, 5.55 Miss Belladonna.
CHESTER: 2.01 Razeyna, 2.35 Origintrail, 3.10 Spirit Mixer, 3.45 Boardman, 4.20 Drafted, 4.55 Broadspear, 5.30 Fairmac.
FFOS LAS: 5.50 Nibras Gold, 6.25 Dunbar, 7.00 Samba Dancer, 7.30 Czech Her Out, 8.00 Chasamax, 8.30 Sambezi, 9.00 Cape Vidal.
HAYDOCK: 1.10 Thunder Legend, 1.45 Tabdeed, 2.20 Mahrajaan, 2.55 Sea La Rosa, 3.30 SUNRAY MAJOR (NAP), 4.05 Alrehb, 4.40 Vintage Choice.
NAVAN: 1.05 Olivia Maralda, 1.40 Age Of Kings, 2.15 Amazing Emma, 2.50 Newfoundland, 3.25 Moony Beams, 4.00 Nusret, 4.35 Grecian Slipper, 5.10 Intend.
PUNCHESTOWN: 1.20 Unexcepted, 1.55 I'll Be That Lady, 2.33 Heia, 3.08 Wolf Prince, 3.43 Folio, 4.18 Showbusiness, 4.53 Buddy Rich, 5.28 Demandrivingdouvan.
SALISBURY: 5.35 Sunny Orange, 6.10 Regal Envoy, 6.45 Oriental Spirit, 7.15 Wiseacre, 7.45 Haarar, 8.15 Orin Swift, 8.45 Eight Of Diamonds.
DOUBLE: Sunray Major and Sea La Rosa.
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