By Dave Stevos
Well what a performance that was by Quiet Reflection in the Group 2 Sandy Lane at Haydock on Saturday. Readers of my ‘Saturday’s Race Of The Day’ article hopefully snapped up some of the 10/1 available during the week and increased their betting bank for Epsom next weekend. Karl Burke’s string is in tremendous form and exciting times lie ahead for connections.
Dougie Costello rode her with supreme confidence and she travelled easily out the back for the first three furlongs. As the more fancied runners battled it out entering the last two furlongs Costello just gave her a little a squeeze to make up ground and when he pressed the button the response was immediate. She showed an astonishing turn of foot to put the race to bed entering the closing stages, and she left her rivals floundering in her wake. She has been cut for the Britannia at Ascot from 20/1 into 8/1 and if she turns up there in the same form it is hard to see her getting beat.
Hugo Palmer may have been disappointed to see Gifted Leader getting beaten in the Sandy Lane, but he can console himself with Home Of The Brave’s battling win in the Group 3 Timeform Jury Stakes. He was desperate to get a victory on the board with his first runner for Godolphin, and the son of Starspangledbanner showed guts and determination to hold off the late challenge of Ryan Moore on Convey. Palmer has suggested that he could be off to the States for his next race, so it would be advisable hold off on backing him ante-post for Ascot if you fancy him until his plans become more concrete.
Last week’s longshot, Weapon Of Choice, was well backed throughout the day and was sent off at just 9/1 (advised at 16/1). However, he could only manage to finish a well beaten fifth, almost 12L behind the winner Cymraeg Bounty. He was slowly away then rushed up to lead before fading badly in the closing stages. I still think he has another race in him but he needs some more help from the handicapper.
This week’s longshot of the day goes in the 2.15 at Redcar, a 5f class 5 handicap that will be run on good to firm ground. Mininggold, a 3yo daughter of Piccolo, is trained by Tim Easterby and this filly could step forward on what she has shown this season back on a sound surface on turf. She has won 2 of her 12 starts, a 5f maiden at Carlisle on good and a class 5 handicap at Catterick last September off 65.
She comes here after a couple of poor efforts this season but she can be excused her comeback run at Pontefract as the 6f trip and good to soft ground were against her. She also had excuses last time at Newcastle, badly hampered at the start and never managing to get into the race. She actually did well to stay on for 6th and it was the first sign of life from her this season. The Easterby yard has been ticking along nicely and they fired in a double on Saturday. Mininggold is back down to a mark of 66 now, just 1lb higher than her last winning mark. I think she is overpriced at odds of 33/1 and, with 17 runners in the field, hopefully she can sneak a place in the first four in a wide open race.
Dave’s Long Shot Of The Day: 2.15 Redcar: Mininggold e/w @ 33/1 Bet365