If Cityscape gets beat in the Royal Lodge, I'll ....................
Anyone willing to oppose Rainbow View in the Fillies Mile, 4/9 is pretty short.
Cityscape is a superb specimen of a horse. On just seeing him I loved him - and had I not been working I'd have taken all the 11/10 that I could find about such an amazing animal at Salisbury last week. He duly hacked up by 9l, easily, so was value for far more. The animal is a beast - he's huge, but bizarrely for such a large horse doesn't look at all backward or weak. He will improve tenfold over the winter and is an immensely exciting prospect. The one question you would have to have is how well he'd handle Epsom, being so large - although he's not lumbersome or ungainly for an animal his size.
Funnily enough I backed him that day too - even though Stevie Drowne was on board!
Seriously though my only note of caution I would sound is that Zacinto in the same colours hacked up in his maiden at Sandown by 8 lengths only to get turned over when pitched into Group company. Ok, Cityscape's race was a novice event, but I have learned from bitter experience down the years that 2 year olds breaking their maiden outside of pattern company by wide margins is not necessarily a guarantee they will prove themselves up to classic standard.
I notice he is in the Royal Lodge so we should know more about his ability on Saturday.
I would be very surprised if Rip Van Winkle lined up in the Royal Lodge.
Funnily enough I backed him that day too - even though Stevie Drowne was on board!
Seriously though my only note of caution I would sound is that Zacinto in the same colours hacked up in his maiden at Sandown by 8 lengths only to get turned over when pitched into Group company. Ok, Cityscape's race was a novice event, but I have learned from bitter experience down the years that 2 year olds breaking their maiden outside of pattern company by wide margins is not necessarily a guarantee they will prove themselves up to classic standard.
I notice he is in the Royal Lodge so we should know more about his ability on Saturday.
In the fillies race, don't discount Golden Stream, she won her debut in similar fashion to Rainbow View and has improved. She would have to be the each way bet.
I would be very surprised if Rip Van Winkle lined up in the Royal Lodge.
Big assumption that they have any good 2 year olds ... of the last few seasons their only quality 2 year olds are Rio de la Plata, Ibn Khladun, Dubawi and perhaps Belenus.