It’s Sprint Cup Day on Saturday, with top-notch July Cup winner Starman looking to confirm his Champion Sprinter title following his successes at York and Newmarket.
On Sunday the very classy Baaeed looks to land his first Group 1 over in France, while around Britain there is some excellent support action across both codes.
We’re off to Haydock first, backing a potentially very classy juvenile to do the business at Listed level.
Saturday 4th September 2021
1.15 Haydock (Ascendant Stakes - Listed Race) - HAFIT
Charlie Appleby, who if he hadn’t before has this season proved exactly why the now world-leading Godolphin operation retains him as their no.1 trainer, has another winning chance here.
So too does William Buick, the rider along with Oisin Murphy who probably have pulled clear from the rest as a duo, with Haafit the young colt set to have him in the winners’ enclosure again.
Haafit made an excellent winning debut on the July Course over seven furlongs last month. He saw the trip out very well up the hill that day, the runner-up has won since and it’s clear there is plenty more to come from him over this distance.
The 2.1 million-guinea purchase by Dubawi should be all the rage near race time in the ring too.
Power Of Beauty looks a strong enough rival, but he chased home the very good Albahr last time of Appleby and Godolphin’s, meaning the Boys in Blue have a very good line on the form and therefore of what’s expected from their runner.
2.20 Haydock (Handicap) - VALLEY FORGE
This is a smallish but high-quality 1m6f handicap for the three-year-olds, one in which likely market leader Valley Forge holds an outstanding winning chance.
Valley Forge, trained by the excellent Andrew Balding for George Strawbridge, is now on a hat-trick after a third, a second, a good win at Ffos Las and an excellent success in the Melrose Handicap over this trip at York.
He’s on a roll alright, remains lightly raced and clearly progressive with undoubtedly at least one more race of this nature in him before the end of the season.
Up against him the chief rivals appear to be Praiano, who is likely to be supported on the day, and Vino Victrix who has a solid form chance but it could be another good day for the reliable and talented David Probert in the saddle.
3.10 Ascot (Lavazza Stakes Handicap) - ALFAADHEL
The upper end of the betting market for this valuable and attractive 1m4f handicap is a very solid one indeed.
Wahraan has won two of his last three for Sir Michael Stoute, Chalk Stream is on a hat-trick for the Queen and William Haggas, and Alfaadhel is another dual winner in 2021 for Roger Varian and Shadwell.
Preference here is for the latter named of that trio. Alfaadhel took the eye when winning his novice race at Chester back in May, and he has gone on to do well since.
He was a good winner at Lingfield on the all-weather, while last time out he was a fine staying-on second at Glorious Goodwood.
The style of both his Chester victory and latest run over a mile and a quarter suggest this trip is fine for him, in fact more improvement could well be forthcoming from a young horse who has certainly not reached his ceiling yet.
Wahraan is naturally respected, while not only Chalk Stream but the solid Irish Legend can also mount major challenges up the straight.
3.30 Haydock (Sprint Cup - Group 1) - CREATIVE FORCE
The betting market for the huge Group 1, six-furlong sprint really revolves around Starman.
Ed Walker’s four-year-old was admittedly very, very good in winning the July Cup at Newmarket and wants the ground reasonably quick, but at these odds he can be taken on.
A touch unlucky in behind Starman at HQ was Creative Force for the all-star Godolphin, Appleby and Buick team. An improving sprinter-cum-seven-furlong type, Creative Force won the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot in June from a better-fancied stablemate despite the very soft ground and being held rather wide out on the wing.
Only a three-year-old with five wins from 8, the son of Dubawi is getting there all the time and is good value to put it up to the favourite.
Starman remains the main danger after his tough and classy wins in the Duke of York Stakes and July Cup, while Charlie Hills’ Garrus is no forlorn hope at a big price after a fine win recently in a French Group 3.
3.45 Ascot (Handicap) - BAASHIR
This is a high quality seven-furlong race, but it’s one in which the upper end of the market is made up by those in form, yet arguably handicapped just about up to their best.
What makes the selection interesting, Baashir, is that he’s a four-year-old, is lightly raced, is back over his favoured trip and ground and is clearly still improving overall.
I say overall as he has one of those ‘in and out’ sort of profiles. He tends to run to his best, then perform under-par, before running to his best once again next time out.
That’s not the reason for the selection of course, but I’d be more than happy for the pattern to continue now as I’m sure would Charlie Hills, Dane O’Neill and Shadwell.
Up against him Top Secret, Via Serendipity and Documenting are all interesting to varying degrees but will hopefully be playing for places.
Sunday 5th September 2021
4.50 York (Handicap) - DUTY OF CARE
I fancied only one horse on Sunday, and hopefully it’s worth the wait in this decent 1m2f handicap on the Knavesmire.
Duty Of Care is the one, a rather nice three-year-old son of Kingman for Juddmonte and Sir Michael Stoute who has Richard Kingscote up top.
He won with more in hand than the bare result would suggest at Pontefract last time on the track, and looks sure to give a lot more now with the extra pace a better race and more runners so often brings.
As for rivals; Moktasaab and Pivoine demand obvious respect and are given as the main dangers.
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