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Gm Equinauts

Racing X tried to take him on, in vein.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

ECONOMIC GIANT

It’s just goes to show that sometimes, the horses state more on the track than we could ever talk about with our mouths.

After all the chat, speculation and doubt, ECONOMICS showed us why is one of the most exciting horses in training by comfortably winning the Group 2 Prix Guillaume D’Ornano.

On his first start for nearly three months, William Haggas’ improving three-year-old dealt with a valiant JAYAREBE in a matter of moments, making everyone associated with Somerville Lodge Stables rather giddy, including the jockey Tom Marquand who praised the decision to miss the Derby.

"There’s definitely more to come from him physically but no-one can stress enough what William and Shaikh Isa did. To miss the Derby is a very bold call. 

"William and Maureen [Haggas] are so often right about these horses – pretty much every time – and for Shaikh Isa to trust the team with that, well it’s a big day to miss out on. 

"But they’ve undoubtedly made the rest of this horse’s career, whatever he does from hereon in."

The story behind ECONOMICS goes a bit further than just saying he’s a good horse, because in a relatively short space of time, he’s already created quite the impression.

As a yearling, he looked like huge thing, which is probably why Haggas was so keen to be slow with him.

Immediately after he won the Dante, he looked to be bleeding, which did cause some concern through the Racing X system.

But, the way he ran through the line yesterday would make you less worried about this going forward.

He then missed the Derby and Eclipse, and Haggas decided to send him here rather than the Juddmonte. Admittedly, we thought it was all a bit smoke and mirrors with this lad, but his performance yesterday created quite the impression.

As such, he is now the 5/1 second-favourite for the Irish Champion Stakes - his next likely target - and improvement on this run looks likely to occur.

That’s because Haggas said post-race: "Who knows how much he'll improve but I'd be a fool if I hadn’t got him quite ready. We’ve done a bit with him – just the normal – and had him fit enough to do it if he was good enough."

He even drew comparisons with BAAEED from Marquand, as he said: "I’ve been part of the Somerville Lodge team for a while now and I’ve been very lucky to ride some very good horses.

"Watching Baaeed going out and winning for the team was brilliant because I genuinely feel part of the team and not just a jockey jumping on their back. 

"So to find a horse so quickly who's looking like he might be of the same calibre is exciting and leaves us plenty to look forward to."

NIGHT OF THUNDER

Speaking of ECONOMICS, it’s worth giving a shout to his sire, NIGHT OF THUNDER.

With FRANKEL, the 2023 champion sire, having a slight down year in 2024, could NIGHT OF THUNDER take home two big prizes by the time the end of the Flat season rolls around?

The 2000 Guineas and Lockinge winner has a chance of picking up the champion juvenile filly prize with FAIRY GODMOTHER depending on what she does next.

Obviously, BEDTIME STORY could be one for FRANKEL after her Royal Ascot and Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes victories, but FAIRY GODMOTHER already has the Group 3 Albany Stakes under her belt and if she wins the Group 1 Cheveley Park (the race she’s likely to go to after a tiny setback) then it would be hard not to give it to her.

As for the champion three-year-old colt, there are a few horses who would be in the mix (CITY OF TROY and NOTABLE SPEECH) but ECONOMICS would have half a chance if he went onto Group 1 glory after yesterday.

He could feasibly take on CITY OF TROY in the Irish Champion Stakes if the Derby winner obliges in the Juddmonte International, so the winner of that could well cement themselves as champion.

Therefore, it seems like the second-half of the Flat season promises to be cracking!

BACK SINGING

After a successful two-year-old season and a win at Royal Ascot this year, it’s fair to say that SOPRANO is a decent horse.

The wheels fell off her a little bit after Ascot, but she worked herself back into form by winning the Group 3 Prix de Lieurey in some style.

Based on her juvenile form with FALLEN ANGEL, JABARAA and SHUWARI, she is a horse who can step up into better company going forward, and that’s exactly what George Boughey thinks.

He said: "She's a strong stayer at the mile and now she's a Group 3 winner as well as a Royal Ascot winner. She was littered with black type as a two-year-old and it was good to get that Group-race win.

"She's always been well entered and she's in the Matron. She'll probably fly the flag at Group 1 level at some stage but it was really all about today."

She’s now 16/1 for the Matron, but that price could well contract by the time decs happen closer to the time. PORTA FORTUNA is likely to go, but FALLEN ANGEL is still on the comeback trail after her setback earlier this season, OPERA SINGER could go but she’s more likely to stay at 10 or go up to 12 than drop back to a mile and ELMALKA hasn’t quite kicked on from her Guineas win.

Let’s hope she gets her chance in the Matron.

RISK ON

14.40 MUSICAL ANGEL 

Good form banked is good and with a run under her belt is expected to run very well. 2/1 a good bet.

16.20 LYNDON B 

Well handicapped on old form and will love the return to a flat track with fast ground. 7/1 ew.

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