Equinties - going for Gold

Gm Equinauts

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

WALKING TO FIELDS OF GOLD

By KINGMAN out of a half-sister to the Group 1 winner ZABEEL PRINCE, FIELD OF GOLD has a pedigree that made Juddmonte put their hands deep into their pockets.

The two-year-old who cost Juddmonte €530,000 looked just a bit good when he won at Newmarket in July, especially due to the fact that OUR TERMS (4th) went on to win at Ascot, but he further proved his ability in Saturday’s Group 3 Solario Stakes.

Although the field was unexposed - so we’re unable to truly know what the form is worth - MATAURI BAY (2nd) is a full brother to the Group 1 winner AUNT PEARL and ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT (3rd) is a half to SEE THE FIRE and SPIRIT MIXER.

What was rather impressive from him was that he was able to quicken up off a slow-enough pace and then still power away. He’ll get further.

Although he holds entries for the Middle Park over a mile and the Dewhurst over seven, the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc Day could be the ultimate plan.

"The Lagardere looks the obvious plan," said Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s racing manager. "The two-year-olds have been exciting and Jonquil did it very well yesterday. In general we have a good bunch. They're led by Babouche in Ireland, who is a Group 1 winner, so it's been an exciting year.”

14/1 for the 2000 Guineas, and he deserves plenty of respect.

FAN-LESS TAMFANA TRIUMPHS

Ahead of the Atalanta Stakes, TAMFANA continued to sell off all morning in the market from odds on, out to 13/8. Her form was standout in the race, yet every one wanted to take it on - perhaps the market thinking it was just too good to be true.

Still, as they say, a horse doesn’t know its price and she duly bolted up under Oisin Murphy.

But, did we learn much?

The first thing to point out is the relative ease at which she won. Oisin guided her down the outside and didn’t have to ask her many questions to stride on and win. Murphy was barely bobbing up and down in the saddle when she hit the front.

So, one can imagine that she could have tried harder, but her form attached to PORTA FORTUNA from the 1000 Guineas is probably stronger.

The next thing is her action, and it’s something that potentially even caught Murphy out. Because of what looks like a big, striding gallop, connections thought she would get further (and that’s why they stepped her up in trip on her last two starts), but it’s fair to say that a mile is right up her street.

This knowledge, as Murphy said, opens up the QEII on Champions Day (20/1) or even the Breeders’ Cup (we assume Mile) but it looks like she won’t be going up in trip for the foreseeable.

She’s very interesting going forward and David Menuisier isn’t afraid of campaigning her aggressively… and rightly so.

WEEKEND EYE-CATCHERS

MARCHOGION - SATURDAY 14.10 CHESTER 

IMPERIAL QUARTER - SATURDAY 14.25 SANDOWN

Roger Varian has probably been frustrated with how slow IMPERIAL QUARTER has been to come to hand this season, but her run behind TAMFANA in the Atalanta was promising.

Firstly, she has a lovely pedigree. By DUBAWI out of the Group 2 Middleton Stakes winner AMBIVALENT - which makes her a half to the Group 1 Prix Vermeille winner TEONA and a full to the Group 2 Prix Hocquart Longines winner AL HILALEE - that is a lovely page.

She won a novice at 2/5 last year and has been campaigned in Listed and Group 3 races, but her best effort came when fourth in a Goodwood handicap in July.

On Saturday, she was keen in the hands of James Doyle, but that didn’t stop her from sauntering down the outside and striding through the line.

She could be one to watch going forward.

CRESSIDA WILDES - SATURDAY 16.25 CHESTER 

This one has great form in the locker and shouldn’t be dismissed when next time out over the same trip or perhaps a furlong further. First win pending imminently.

RISK ON

Frustrating day Saturday hitting the crossbar a couple of times when really we should have been one and done with FIELD OF GOLD. The shortlist of possible horses to bet that didn’t make the cut obviously went on to win namely SPIRIT MXER for Balding. It happens. Our new horse Norm voiding save the day either.

Today we like only one horse:

18.00 INFINITY BLUE 

Should be a two horse race with the fave and we think this lad edges it so hopefully we can bag a winning start to the week at 11/4.

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