Equinties - Guineas fave

Gm Equinauts

There were some very, very nice horses out last week and racing has a lot to get excited about.

Let’s dive in.

BGP FANTASY LEAGUE COMP

We’ve been hyping up the TOTE’s new Fantasy game since we found it. Why? Simply because there is nothing else out there now which can help people cage the betting chimp while maintaining an emotional interest in the big races of the day.

People bet way too much and the Fantasy allows you to get limited risk on, fill your brain up with the dope it craves and still be in the mix for a big win.

If we hit 100 stables today, top of the BGP private league get’s a new ‘GM’ cap.

HEADLINE ROUND UP

End of July

Boy what a rollercoaster of emotion the July meeting was. From Prosser and PUROSANGUE the first day, to CITY OF TROY and champagne for SHAQUILLE the last.

Firstly, a big thank you to Shadwell for hosting us on July Cup day. It was incredible to see the betting ring pump LITTLE BIG BEAR to fave in person.

In all seriousness it was an absolute privilege to see this weapon up close:

If he can stay sound, it looks like the Guineas is his already. Wow, what a monster.

As we try to do with these big meeting reviews, here are our favourite three performances from the week:

JULY CUP - SHAQUILLE

He did it.

Simultaneously stamping his authority (again) in Group 1 company and liquidating all LITTLE BIG BEAR backers, SHAQUILLE hosed up in the big race of the week and proved Royal Ascot wasn't a fluke.

Despite giving away three lengths at the start, the CHARM SPIRIT (who!?) colt powered to the front under Rossa Ryan and never saw another rival, harking back to his Royal Ascot win just last month when rearing in the stalls.

In pure isolation, the performance and spectacle this brilliant horse brought to Newmarket was met with both thunderous cheer and crying from people who’d just done their b@llocks.

For trainer Julie Camacho, JUDICIAL’s win in the 2018 Charge was the stable’s most important victory prior to this season and for a long time stood on its own as their only Group 1 win in the trophy cabinet. They have space on the shelf for now but with SHAQUILLE picking up two in quick succession, Julie might need to build more space.

It cannot be overstated how important this horse is for Julie’s yard. The big exposure will attract more owners and subsequently better horses in to Norton to be trained by this able operation.

Norton won't be the only yard benefitting from this though, Haras du Logis Saint Germain who stands CHARM SPIRIT will have LOVED this. He will no doubt be offered a better book of mares next year.

SUPERLATIVE STAKES - CITY OF TROY

Despite the whispers that he was the real deal, the books still tried to give CITY OF TROY away before the off. 4/5 was available about 5 mins before the off and even Denise tried to curse him with the dreaded Bet365 ‘super boost’ at 11/8.

The late money came for him though and he went off 4/6 to do this:

CITY OF TROY bolted up in the Superlative Stakes to give Aidan O’Brien ANOTHER ante-post favourite for the 2000 Guineas next May, overtaking previous ante-post fav and stablemate RIVER TIBER at the top of the market.

And to all information, it looks like we have a right to be excited.

Sired by JUSTIFY, Coolmore’s ‘we need to diversify’ stallion, CITY OF TROY looks set up to pay of their investment race by race, all the way to the Guineas.

SIR HENRY CECIL STAKES - NOSTRUM

This lad produced arguably the performance of the meeting. After 278 days off the track, NOSTRUM justified his well-backed status and well backed price to saunter home under Ryan Moore.

As with CITY OF TROY, all the correct horses were seemingly in behind him in NEW ENDEAVOR, a Royal Ascot runner-up, and MOSTABSHIR, a horse who was eight lengths behind PADDINGTON in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Off that break, the money came hard producing the gamble of the week and it certainly didn’t miss – he could well be eyeing up the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood now.

His inclusion in the 3yo 1m division is one of great interest and hopefully, he can take on PADDINGTON soon.

This highly anticipated clash only added to the mouth watering prospect of further big names going toe to toe.

FEED THE FLAME’s victory in the Grand Prix de Paris over 1m4f to beat our Epsom Oaks winner, SOUL SISTER, made racing fans hot at the thought of him facing Prix du Jockey Club winner, ACE IMPACT again.

But, and this is a big but, wouldn’t it be cool to see them all clash at some point? You could even throw in some older horses like LUXEMBOURG and BAY BRIDGE … maybe a little bit of KING OF STEEL.

Imagine it…1m2f at a fair track suddenly becoming the world’s biggest stage. Something like the Juddmonte International perhaps. Or even the Irish Champion Stakes. Woof.

It’s unlikely to happen, it’s merely a dream, but it would be some clash.

STATS OF THE DAY

Only one stat of note today in ROMANOR 16.35 for Seamus Mullins. Nolan and Mullins are 6 from 16 at course and the horse has won round Newton Abbot twice previous.

RISK ON

Two singles and a small double today:

16.00 THE GREY FALCO

Risk on Pauling's yard form here. A few years ago we would never have touched his horses but now at his new yard, he’s really found his groove and his horses are flying. This horse won so easily last time, he looks well handicapped and 9/4 is too big given the pedigrees of his opposition.

18.40 MATLOOB 

Varian has taken his time with his 2yo’s this year so I’m happy to ignore the first two runs from this lad. His third run when he won was so impressive, he basically made up 20 lengths in two furlongs. He faces a stronger field today having beat nothing lto but it’s mainly fillies with Johnstons the only colt to beat. Can go again today proving well handicapped, 13/8.

Half bet singles and 9/1 double.

Finndog has backed BREMEN in the Killarney first, a race Donnacha O’Brien is on a hat trick for. The right people on this one today…but I hate Irish racing.