Clash to savour if Roaring Lion takes on Poet’s Word
The first two home pulled two and a half lengths clear of the four-year-old Cliffs Of Moher (Galileo) back in third to put the three-year-olds firmly on top in this first intergenerational clash over a mile and a quarter, with both colts paying a handsome compliment to Masar (New Approach), who was an eleventh-hour absentee from this race through injury, having finished third and fourth respectively behind him in the Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f) at Epsom last month.
This was a brave effort from the teak-tough Saxon Warrior, who was returning to the racecourse just one week on from running third in the Irish Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f) at the Curragh. The Racing Post Rating of 122 awarded for this effort is just 1lb shy of the figure he posted when winning the 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) in May, upholding the impression that his stamina capabilities are stretched by a mile and a half. He could even revert back to a mile later in the summer.
Ten furlongs appears the perfect trip for the strong-travelling Roaring Lion, who was caught a little further back than ideal on the turn for home, but he made up his ground very easily on the climb for the line and looks to only just do enough when hitting the front, a characteristic that ought to aid his longevity moving forward.
Although the stewards held an inquiry into possible interference, with the winner having hung away from the whip and into the path of the runner-up in the closing stages, the result was never in any serious doubt and an overall time considerably under Racing Post standard adds further credence to this piece of form on the whole. However, Roaring Lion will need to improve again if he is to conquer the best ten-furlong colt in Europe – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2f) winner Poet’s Word (Poet’s Voice) – and a potential clash in the International Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2f) at York next month is a mouth-watering one.
Six to watch at the Tattersalls July Sale
The three-day July meeting gets underway at Newmarket on Thursday and while the action on the track is the rightful main course, the accompanying mixed sale provides a tasty side-dish and there is something for everyone with over 900 lots catalogued across three days. Although quantity appears to prevail over quality this year, there are a number of interesting prospects from the perspective of the Australian market, a selection of which are outlined below.
Lot 292 http://www.tattersalls.com/cat/july/2018/292.pdf
Desert Wind (3 c Worthadd – Matula by Halling)
Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd from Machell Place Stables (E Vaughan)
Trained by Ed Vaughan, this colt enjoyed a productive winter on the all-weather, showing a decent turn of foot to win to defy a penalty in a couple of ordinary novice events prior to finishing second at Chelmsford on his handicap debut (1m2f), pulling clear with a pair of progressive opponents. He ran a clear career best dropped in trip and switched to turf when finishing fourth in the Britannia Stakes (1m) at Royal Ascot, keeping on in the closing stages and shaping like he will be well-suited by a return to middle distances. With an official rating of 93 and an aptitude for fast ground he is likely to be popular with a view to racing in Hong Kong, but he has the potential to make his mark in the southern hemisphere as well.
Lot 454 http://www.tattersalls.com/cat/july/2018/454.pdf
Department Of War (3 c Declaration Of War – Danetime Out by Danetime)
A partnership from East Everleigh Stables (R Hannon)
Owned by the Coolmore triumvirate in partnership with South African business magnate Markus Jooste, whose bloodstock interests have been gradually dispersed across the course of the year, Department Of War made a striking impression when beating a couple of subsequent winners on debut in a Nottingham maiden (1m2f) in April. He then faced a tough task for one so inexperienced when pitched into the Fairway Stakes (Listed, 1m2f) at Newmarket, finishing last of the three runners having raced too freely in the early stages, while he looked unsuited by the ridges of Ripon when disappointing in a novice stakes (1m3f) on his most recent outing. However, the manner of his first-time-out success remains firmly in the mind and this half-brother to National Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) winner Toormore (Arakan) is surely a more talented individual than an official rating of 87 implies.
Lot 536 http://www.tattersalls.com/cat/july/2018/536.pdf
Francis Xavier (4 g High Chaparral – Missionary Hymn by Giant’s Causeway)
On behalf of Kremlin Cottage Stables (H Palmer) from The Castlebridge Consignment
Although he did not debut until the October of his three-year-old season Francis Xavier has quickly made up for lost time since, winning a Newcastle maiden (1m) on his third outing in November before showing dramatically improved form when making a successful handicap debut switched to turf and upped in trip at Doncaster (1m2f) last month. While that was an ordinary contest run at a steady gallop, Francis Xavier travelled powerfully on the fast ground before putting the race to bed very easily inside the final quarter mile, winning with far greater authority than the two and a half length margin implies. His sister High And Flighty, although moderate, stayed a mile and a half and this gelding looks a real middle-distance improver for the southern hemisphere, particularly as his sire has been a fruitful source of high-quality performers in Australia, including last year’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winner Rekindling.
Lot 540 http://www.tattersalls.com/cat/july/2018/540.pdf
Arbalet (3 c Dark Angel – Miss Beatrix by Danehill Dancer)
On behalf of Kremlin Cottage Stables (H Palmer) from The Castlebridge Consignment
Also trained by Hugo Palmer, this colt finished third behind subsequent Classic winners Masar (New Approach) and Romanised (Holy Roman Emperor) in the Solario Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Sandown as a two-year-old prior to undergoing wind surgery over the winter. He posted a clear personal-best performance when finishing fifth in the Jersey Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Royal Ascot last month, running to a mark of 104 and shaping like he will be well–suited by an easy mile on fast ground. Already a classy performer, he has the potential for further improvement after just eight career outings.
Lot 827 http://www.tattersalls.com/cat/july/2018/827.pdf
New Show (3 c New Approach – Music Show by Noverre)
Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd from Hambleton Lodge Stables (K Ryan)
A dual winner from three starts, New Show produced a good performance to win an above-average Thirsk novice stakes (1m) under a penalty last week, with the first four home having already achieved a level of form that would usually be good enough to triumph in such a contest. He made a mid-race move that forced him wide into the bend there and he did well to repel the late challenge of previous winner Borodin (High Chaparral), running on like a step up in trip will suit further down the line. He could be stakes class in time.
Lot 836 http://www.tattersalls.com/cat/july/2018/836.pdf
La Rav (4 g Footstepsinthesand – Swift Acclaim by Acclamation)
From Bedford House Stables (L Cumani)
A free-going sort who was gelded over the winter, La Rav made sustained progress in five outings last summer, winning twice and shaping better than the bare result on his final start in a York handicap (1m) having taken a false step when beginning to run on. He was bought back for 50,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale last year and while he has yet to race this season, he remains with plenty of potential running over a mile on fast ground.