It's the start of Royal Ascot week in the UK and to a man every follower of horse racing knows that the charity meeting at York provides an appetising hors d'oevre highlighted by the big sprint, the Pavers Foundation Catherine Memorial Handicap.
UK Racing
From the first Timeform Charity fixture run in 1971, the racecourse popularly known as 'the Ascot of the North' has hosted this major fund raising event which perfectly tees things up for the pomp and circumstance of the following week.
Indeed it was York, with its racecourse sited on the historic Knavesmire, that gained the distinction of welcoming the transfer of the Royal meeting when Ascot's new stand was being constructed and the venue redeveloped in 2005. The people of the city are intensely proud that their track was chosen to host 'Royal Ascot At York', and what a memorable occasion it was.
Some super swift three-year-olds will blaze down the six furlongs track at 3.35 on Saturday and in a period in which winner finding is sacrosanct to punters there couldn't be a more aptly named potential than RATHBONE, unbeaten in two outings for trainer Kevin Ryan this season.
Owner Angie Bailey names all her horses after famous actors, and you don't need a magnifying glass to tell you that this gelding named after the man synonymous with the best known sleuth in fiction is a serious player as his recent Leicester triumph has worked out especially well.
Even though Ryan has entered a total of three for the prize, Rathbone stands out as the main protagonist as the horse he beat in that, Blown By Wind, went close in a good race at Newmarket on Saturday.
Just as Ryan threatens to be mob handed in the contest, his Great Habton neighbour Tim Easterby perhaps significantly relies on just one entry in the form of the multiple scorer LOOK OUT LOUIS.
The son of Harbour Watch has scored twice this summer and perhaps ran his best race in defeat when just losing out at Ripon where he might have hit the front too soon.
William Haggas is a Yorkshireman to his roots and his runners here are always afforded the utmost respect. This augers well for VICTORY DAY who showed the benefit of a gelding operation dropped back to this distance at Ripon last time. It wasn't the hottest of heats but he could do no more than win doing handstands.
The Listed race on the card over a mile and threequarters could feature the latest Sir Michael Stoute improver in the shape of MEKONG. Since being rolled on his handicap debut off a mark of 85 he has improved sufficiently to chase home Dee Ex Bee in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown.
This contest will see him dropping down in grade, returning to his optimum distance and likely to encounter the give in the ground that he favours.
A probable opponent is a Mark Johnston's AUSTRIAN SCHOOL who will be looking for better ground than the heavy in which he flopped in the Chester Cup.
South Africa
After a few weeks of big race decadence, there is only one feature race on the South African programme this weekend with the Gr2 Post Merchants being run at Greyville under the lights on Friday evening.
Two past winners in SNIPER SHOT and SEARCH PARTY line-up at the 1200m start in a race weighted on merit rating bands.
While lumbering a hefty 62kgs, it is difficult to discount the chances of Cape star speedster KASIMIR, who returns from a three month break following his courageous victory in the Diadem Stakes at Kenilworth. The Richard Fourie-Justin Snaith combination has been in devastating form this SA Champions Season and the Cape-based duo can notch another success. While match fitness is a concern, the 1200m at Greyville is draw sensitive and it looks to be the only party spoiler.
The fairer sex do not have the greatest record in the race, but Gauteng raider GREEN PLAINS, a dual stakes winner, is better than her recent form suggests and could give plenty of cheek.
The Vodacom Durban July ante-post market was brightened dramatically by Saturday’s feature results and after DO IT AGAIN’s gutsy Gr1 Gold Challenge success, the race has shifted from a potential one-horse party – everybody loves superstar 3yo HAWWAAM – to something a little more complicated!
Have a look at our Vodacom Durban July ante-post market here.
Further afield, the Gr1 Prix de Diane – or the French Oaks, as it is known – will be contested at Longchamp on Sunday.
Trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre was careful not to get carried away with SIYARAFINA’s Gr1 Prix Saint Alary win at end May and confessed he hoped there would be more to come in the Diane. But she will spearhead the home attack, while COMMES, who is bred to improve for this longer trip, and her stablemate ETOILE, winner of three of her four starts to date, including the Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud, could be in the shake-up.
Aidan O’Brien has never won the French Oaks - so rather than possible Hermosa-substitute HAPPEN, who won a Gr3 at the Curragh last month, the leading British/Irish-trained contender could be MAQSAD.
While we are all mostly distracted by the excitement of the build-up to Royal Ascot next week, it’s still a great weekend that lies ahead.
Enjoy it.
Till next time.
