Noted in Running: Flat 2021

BABINDI

Chester 25 June
tote & EBF Supporting #RacingWithPride Fillies' Handicap
1m2½f, Class 3, £11,081.10
Going: Good

Not a lot has gone right for William Haggas and his Babindi in her three runs this year.

In her first race at Newmarket Babindi was badly hampered when coming to win the race by eventual winner Bellazada, ridden by Martin Dwyer. He was suspended for four days for careless riding, but the stewards let the result stand - a strange decision it seemed to me. Then, in her second at Ripon she finished strongly, but went down by a nose.

Come today at Chester she was drawn well only for Hayley Turner to give her a horrible ride allowing her to get locked in on the inside from the get go. Presumably relying on getting an inside run late on she was further thwarted by the weakening leader edging across her and causing her to check. She deserves a bit of good fortune in future.

An enquiry was held to consider interference on the run to the line involving BASILICATA (IRE), placed third, ridden by Franny Norton and BABINDI, placed fourth, ridden by Hayley Turner. Norton was cautioned for careless riding as he allowed his mount to edge left-handed, towards the rail, without sufficient correction, causing Turner to take a slight check on BABINDI.
 
DESERT DREAMER

Newmarket 26 June
Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' Stakes (Listed Race)
6f, Class 1, £17,013
Going: Good To Firm

Both the winner and Desert Dreamer came from the rear of this big field, the difference being that the winner enjoyed racing on the near side after commencing her run 2 furlongs out and was able to wind up the pace smoothly. Desert Dreamer, however, could not find an opening until 1 furlong out when she blistered through the field with a burst of acceleration to take brief lead with 50 yards to go only to be foiled close to home by the superior finishing pace of the winner.

It would be interesting to see what the final furlong sectional times were for the first three home, but I can’t find them for Newmarket.
 
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Based purely on a final furlong of 12.73 secs (from RUK replay) and a few others, it suggests the leaders were slowing down, rather than others quickening.
Just my take on it, mind.
 
MAGLEV

Yarmouth 1 July
British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)
6f, Class 4, £4,266
Going: Good To Firm

Maglev had shown up well on his debut at Leicester and when you see a Haggas 2yo showing a lot of promise first time out it usually pays to take notice. You could be excused for wishing you hadn’t when you saw Maglev still in last place coming into the final furlong here but, despite stumbling a bit and hanging left, he stormed through to get up on the line without Tom Marquand putting him under a great deal of pressure. More to come I reckon.
 
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STONE OF DESTINY

Sandown 3 July
Coral Charge (Group 3) (Registered As The Sprint Stakes)
5f, Class 1, £45,368
Going: Good To Soft

My eyes were fixed on the first two home since they were both trackers (the wrong one won!), but in reviewing the race I thought that Stone of Destiny was a tad unfortunate.

He was slowly away and raced on the rail towards the back waiting and waiting for a clear run which never came. Into the last furlong he was switched away from the rail to find some space and he finished strongly into fourth. If he’d managed to get something of a run I think he would have at least been in the mix and he’s worth another chance.
 
LOCKERBIE

Ripon 5 July
Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Maiden Stakes
1m, Class 5, £3,510
Going: Good To Soft

Lockerbie was all the rage yesterday, having been 12/1 early price she opened at 10/1 and was backed through to 7/4 favourite in the end.

This was her opening run of the season for Haggas (who usually leaves something to work on) so the gamble was a bit of a surprise. She played up a bit at the start, but raced well up with the pace from the wide outside draw. Squeezed for room between the first two in the last furlong she was not given anything like a hard time by Daniel Tudhope and went down by half a length and a nose. A race at this level looks well within her compass and I think she’ll merit interest next time.
 
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Post #36 Project Dante runs tomorrow 2:25 Newmarket, early price 7/2
Post #47 Migration runs to morrow 4:45 Newmarket, early price 9/2
 
Post #1 Primo Bacio runs again tomorrow, 3:35 Newmarket - early price 6/1 5th
Post #37 Vadream runs tomorrow, 2:40 York - early price 5/2 2nd 15/8
Post #57 Desert Dreamer runs tomorrow, 2:25 Newmarket - early price 12/1 2nd 11/2
 
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PEARL BAY

Salisbury 11 July
Penang Turf Club Malaysia Novice Stakes
7f, Class 5, £3,618
Going: Good To Soft

Henry Candy’ pre race comments:

Pearl Bay is still a bit weak. She is tall and leggy and still learning. I would expect a bit of improvement from her last run, but she is not ready to trouble the judge yet.

As it turned out she won very comfortably, although it’s difficult to think that the form amounted to much. Nonetheless, if Henry is to be believed there must be a lot more to come and she should be of interest at this sort of level.
 
Prix Jean Prat - Sun 11 June

Thunder Moon showed his usual turn of foot in moving from last to 2nd in this (on fast ground, not the official V. sft), and though his pedigree suggests otherwise, blinkers and a drop to 6f would make him one serious tool,imo.
 
Post #22 Bond Chairman runs again tomorrow Newbury 3:20, early price 7/2 - got an extra furlong to play with this time.

Upl drifter
 
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Post #57 Desert Dreamer runs tomorrow 1:50 Ascot, early price 5/2 - has run second since post when again not getting the best of runs.
 
FOORAAT

York 23July
British Stallion Studs EBF Lyric Fillies' Stakes (Listed Race).
1m2½f, Class 1, £29,489.20
Going: Good To Firm

Fooraat got involved in a barging match about a furlong out which knocked her off balance, recovering from that she was again bumped (or did the bumping) half a furlong out just as she was making her challenge which checked her again. In the end she only went down by two short heads and would surely have won without such a rough passage. The stewards saw it slightly differently, so I should take a look yourselves.

Just inside the 1-furlong marker, FOORAAT (IRE), placed third, shifted right at the same time as A LA VOILE, placed fourth, shifted left causing both fillies to become unbalanced after a slight bump, but after viewing a recording of the incident it was found that no riding offence was involved and that it had not improved the placing of FOORAAT (IRE).

Approximately ½-furlong out, FOORAAT (IRE) continued to hang right taking A LA VOILE off its intended line, but after viewing a recording of the incident it was found that no riding offence was involved and that it had not improved the placing of FOORAAT (IRE).
 
Suspected Mohafeth was at York for a looksee for the Juddmonte today, and the way he was ridden fully confirmed that view.
16/1 currently, and you can take that to the bank.
 
Frankel said:
Certainly painful watching him today.
Click to expand...
It happens all the time, at all levels. Give an improving horse an 'easy' in preparation for its intended target down the road.
Stable clearly think the world of him, he's had a sighter over C/D, all he needs now is the likely Summer ground and looks nailed on, first 3.
All imo,of course. :)
 
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