In this regular Monday segment, racing expert Scott Armstrong of The Sportsman service, rounds up all the action of note from this weekend’s racing.
Scott had a day to remember on Saturday after successfully advising a lay of Poet’s Voice in the Celebration Mile and highlighting the 12/1 winner Mehdi at Newmarket.
Dubawi Gold scooped the £57,000 pot when winning the Celebration Mile at Goodwood. The official winning distance was half a length though in truth he could have won by a lot further. Richard Hannon’s three-year old colt was given a supremely confident ride by the ever classy Richard Hughes, being allowed to settle at the rear of the field before quickening impressively to seal the race. Connections are looking at a Group 1 race for Dubawi Gold with the Prix Du Moulin looking the favoured option or possibly the QEII. I would be surprised if he proved good enough to land either of them. Excelebration hammered Dubawi Gold by over seven lengths in the aforementioned Hungerford Stakes and the Prix Du Moulin looks his for the taking on September 11th.
The Celebration Mile favourite Poet’s Voice was the lay suggestion from Friday’s article and he proved a disappointment to backers but joy for those of you who followed me in. Goldolphin’s charge looks a horse to avoid in the immediate future having travelled well but finding nothing when asked by Frankie Dettori. Question marks surround Poet’s Voice’s temperament as witnessed by his unsightly attempt to take a chunk out of race opponent Beacon Lodge on Saturday. A Timeform squiggle could be adjacent to his name on the race-card shortly.
The back advice on Friday was Mehdi to overturn hot favourite Samitar in the £100,000 Tattersalls Millions Median Auction Stakes. A frantic finish saw the selection hold off Samitar by a short head under the hands of Shane Kelly. Mehdi originally available at 12-1 in the morning (as Mike from SBC Tweeted), was heavily backed returning at an SP of 6-1. The two-year old colt has speed to burn and should realise more of his promise when granted firmer conditions. In the same race Chapter Seven was a promising fourth despite running a shade green on only his third start. If he takes the maiden route he is a banker, otherwise it will be interesting to see what mark the handicapper allocates him for nurseries.
Derby winner Pour Moi’s retirement was the shock news of the weekend with a leg injury curtailing his career at the age of three. It’s a big blow for flat racing to lose a horse of his status who had only five career outings and his potential will forever remain unfulfilled.
Read more from Scott every Friday and Monday on the SBC Blog