2020 Flat Issue 5 - A big weekend of races to look forward to

Headlines

Boccaccio writes off rivals at Newmarket

Mayfair still has winning Spirit,

Colours Speaks Up at Curragh

Persian is Crowned King at Saint -Cloud

Magical lands Pretty Polly Stakes

Cognac raises Martins Spirits

Report

Last Monday at Kempton in the 1m handicap Cognac (Martin), went to post, Chased leader, shaken up to challenge over 2f out, ridden and led 1f out, ran on well, winning by 2l. He gets 25 points.

At Newmarket on Saturday where in the 7f handicap Boccaccio ( Martin, Steve), took his chance, Took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden and edged right under 2f out, every chance 1f out, kept on well towards finish, led post , winning by a short head. He gets 12 points.

On Sunday at Saint-Cloud in the 1m group 2 Persian King ( Cliff, Peej), went to post, Broke well and soon led, shaken up 2f out, joined 1 1/2f out, ran on to regain lead entering final furlong, asserted close home, winning by 1 ¼ l. He gets 21.6 points.

At Windsor in the 1m 3f handicap Mayfair Spirit ( Peej), went to post, Midfield, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, ridden out , winning by 1 ¼ l . He gets 45.4 points.

At the Curragh in the 6f group2 Speak In Colours ( Neil), took his chance, Led and disputed far side, still going well 2f out and soon led narrowly, ridden and went 1 length clear inside final furlong, reduced lead close home, held on, winning by a head. He gets 49.4 points.

In the 1m 2f Group 1 Pretty Polly stakes Magical ( Bob), took her chance, Made all, over 1 length clear at halfway, extended advantage still going well 3f out, pushed further clear 2f out, in command 1f out, winning easily by 4 ½ l. She gets 52.4 points.

John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                  June            Total

Cliff             500.05          500.05

Tony            336.35         336.35

Bob               305.8          305.8

Peej            217.6              217.6

Steve         181.3            179.9

Neil            176.7             176.7

Cod             120.8             120.8

Martin        111.9          111.9

Steve and Tony have 1.5 tote points added For Space Blues win in France last week

Grand Slam Leg 1

Neil 

Leg 2 Tony

Leg 3 Tony

Leg 4  Cliff

News

Aidan O’Brien’s classy stayer Kew Gardens has been retired to stud and will stand under Coolmore’s National Hunt banner next season.

Winner of the 2018 St Leger at Doncaster, the Galileo five-year-old memorably got the better of Stradivarius in a thrilling finish to the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on British Champions Day last season, his final outing.

Investec Derby third favourite Military March was on Thursday ruled out of the Flat season’s premier Classic after Saeed bin Suroor’s big hope suffered a setback. Military March has had a setback but it's not a major problem. He'll miss the Derby and we'll give him a bit of a break now. He's going to come back at the end of September for an autumn campaign.

 Punter interest in the Derby is quite limited this year, Kameko, Max Vega and Mogul being our only entries. In the Oaks, Love is our only entry

 Sunday’s Eclipse stakes at Sandown promises to be one of the best races of the season, Punter entries are  Enable, Ghaiyyath, Lord North, Magic Wand, Deirdre, Japan.

In France on Sunday in the Prix Du Jockey Club, Victor Ludorum, Pao Alto, hold entries, Alpine Star is entered in Prix Diane

Ger Lyons has his fingers crossed travel restrictions are lifted in time to allow Colin Keane to ride Siskin in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on July 29.

The First Defence colt maintained his unbeaten record when overcoming a troubled passage to win the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas in fine style.

Lyons immediately nominated Goodwood as his next port of call - but he is hoping the quarantine rules currently in place due to Covid-19 are eased sufficiently to enable his stable jockey to travel.

The Punters view on the Derby is that English King, having won impressively round Lingfileld is a big player but far to short at 9/4. Ballydoyle throw 7 in, which normally mean they are hoping to nick it by messing a lot of the others up, and probably don’t really know what will win for them, so Pyledriver who finished in front of 2 Ballydoyle runners at Ascot at 14/1 is a great each way bet.

In the Oaks I will stick with Love as she is in my string but I fear Frankly Darling