Seb Sanders has a fantastic chance to land his first Ebor winner today
The big race of the day the Totesport Ebor handicap and the major market move has been for Aiden O’Brien’s Changingoftheguard who still holds a Leger entry and is widely expected to win today. The race has history of throwing up a big priced winner or two and where would the fun be in picking a 3-1 favourite in a 19 runner field. The 6 year old gelding by Desert Sun has been making steady improvement throughout the course of the season and looks to have a fantastic chance at 16-1
He made his seasonal reappearance at Kempton over 2 miles showing a decent turn of foot after Phillip Robinson set very slow fractions in attempt to steal the race. The next step would be the Chester Cup over the 2 mile 2 furlong trip, racing off a new career high mark Martin Dwyer hit the front early on making the most of a low draw but the horse failed to see out the trip after a muddling gallop but still managed to battle on well for 4th place.
The next step for Desert Sea would be the Esher at Sandown and his most impressive win to date, despite the 6 runners Amerigo generously set a decent gallop where Ryan Moore sat pretty towards the rear until making a powerful bid on the outside 3 furlongs from home where he would kick on to fight out a gruelling duel with Victoria Montoya inside the final furlong in which the duo both recorded a fantastic time on the clock leaving Wells Lyrical and Judgethemoment nothing more to give solidifying the value of this time.
The David Arbuthnot trained gelding is versatile as he’s shown to quicken of a slow or fast pace but there will be a decent pace in the Ebor today more than likely set by Warringah, the race has favoured hold up horses in the past and if Seb Sanders can take a leaf out of Ryan Moore’s book at Sandown then we could see Desert Sea, Seb Sanders and David Arbuthnot making the headlines in tomorrow’s papers.
After Harbingers disapointing performance, will Class is Class give Stoute something to smile about
With Harbingers disappointment yesterday Sir Michael Stoute looks likely to take down the first stayer’s race of the day when Class is Class the short priced favourite hopes to build on a fantastic run at Newmarket last month behind Firebet.
This son of Monteju is out of Hector’s Girl who came 3rd in the Nell Gwyn for Sir Michael Stoute in 2003, he is a half brother to Ascot Lime who has put some solid times on the clock over 10 furlongs and still looks a horse with plenty to give if he is still in training (note – Ascot Lime hasn’t run in 2009).
Class is Class only had the two runs as a 2 year old but it was plain to see he was going to be a longer term project as a 3 year old. The horse made his debut in a maiden at Yarmouth running over the mile; he was given a handy ride by Louis-Phillipe Beuzelin tracking the leaders into the final 2 furlongs were he ran on well towards the finish to foil the fancied Espiritu for Jeremy Noseda in what was a pleasing performance doing the best of his work towards the finish and given the jockey booking you would wonder if the horse needed the run which if he did that would of said a lot for the performance.
It was a while until Class is Class ran again and he took his chance in a valuable handicap at the July meeting where he was given a mark of 89 after his cosy maiden success which had worked out well, Ryan Moore took the ride and there was plenty of market support but he found one too good on the day in the rapidly improving Firebet but there was something to like about the way he ran. There was a different approach in tactics were he would be held up off a strong pace, after coming of the bridle around 3 furlongs out Ryan Moore took him to the outside as he made steady headway 1 furlong from home as he ran on strongly up the hill to grabbed 3rd place.
Class is Class is still learning his trade who has got some interesting form lines from his two runs this year but he put up an effort last time out that screams 12 furlongs but what makes him a solid proposition today is he has the profile taking a near identical route as Galactic Star in 2007, he comes in to the race as least exposed but bringing a time on the clock that suggests he’ll be a few lengths better than his opposition today.
Will Orpen be caught today?
Orpen Grey lines up in the Gimcrack today a race which has thrown up a fair few decent horses in its time and Orpen Grey looks set to add his name to the list. Tom Dascombe is not known for his exploits in Group races but he is a trainer that has caught many people’s attention who is rising through the ranks in the training game and has a horse in Orpen Grey who can really help in raising the profile.
Orpen Grey is a son of Orpen who has a habit of producing speedy 2 year olds, he is out of Sky Red who was a handy sprinter at a lower level running 16 times with 3 wins and 3 places but she is a full sister to Shoalhaven and Night Haven who are two black type winning sprinters.
The debut came at Goodwood under Ross Atkinson where the horse was hampered a the start after being slow away and was always trailing the field but did eventually make some pleasing headway towards the finish. The debut was one to forget and a drop down to 5 furlongs at Warwick next time out saw the grey colt put to bed an experienced field with ease, this time under stable jockey Richard Kingscote he was much smarter away than last time out tracking the long time leader in Admin who he eventually bypassed with ease over 1 furlongs from home with nothing coming from the back to record a cosy success.
The race that made everyone stand up and take notice would be his 8 length demolition at Haydock in a conditions event, going off the 2-1 favourite Orpen Grey bounced from the stalls very smartly and bagged the rail position where he would not see another horse again, coming down to the 3 pole Richard Kingscote was sitting pretty whilst the others were niggling away and he soon asked the little grey dynamo to go win his race in which he duly obliged sprinting clear in the final furlong to record a rip roaring success as the others were left trailing 8 or more lengths behind.
From a family with plenty of speed it was no surprise to see Orpen Grey progress this far with a tremendous effort in the July Stakes taking the field along at a good pace as nothing bar Arcano was able to bypass him and he was beaten by a better horse on the day. At this stage of his career he has shown more than the others especially on the clock with that latest effort and although in time some may progress further it is about now and right now Orpen Grey will be one of the most difficult 2 year old sprinters to break down with his heart, guts and durability out in front.
