Equinties - July meeting day 3

Gm Equinauts

Another special day of racing today with Group action littered from North to South.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUND UP

NO GUINEAS

We have a lot to get through in today’s edition, so we’ll keep this news section short and snappy.

VENETIAN SUN maintained her unbeaten record in the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes, but it wasn’t pretty.

Yes, Karl Burke probably hasn’t asked too much of her at home since Ascot, but there were shouts that she was kicking older Group 1 horses out the way and every one was expecting a monster performance.

Maybe it was a monster performance, maybe the closing ROYAL FIXATION is the bigger monster!?

They both pulled well clear!

After Royal Ascot, Burke said she could turn into a Guineas contender, but based on yesterday’s finishing effort over six furlongs, you wouldn’t be in a rush to back her for next year’s 1000 Guineas.

She has a speedy pedigree, and she didn’t see out a stiff finish on the July Course. Those aren’t the two characteristics you want in a potential Guineas filly. Post-race, Burke said: "We decided to enter her for this only last week as she had no issues after Ascot, and she's done well considering she was in front for a while. I must say she's a league above Dandalla and is so laid-back, she was bombproof in the prelims today. 

"I'd say she's a lot quicker than our other good fillies like Fallen Angel and Laurens, and hopefully can have a productive autumn.

"I would think the Lowther would be out after that as she's won a Group 2. She's in the Morny, so we'll have a look at that, and going forward I'd say the Moyglare Stud Stakes could also be in the mix. She's a miler at least and also a three-year-old type."

If Burke is basically scrapping the Morny, that’s a big chunk of it’s market taken out…so let’s have a look at that race now.

In at fave we have Ballydoyle’s TRUE LOVE who was last seen winning the Queen Mary. That was her third start and the Lowther will be her fourth making her fairly exposed for a 2yo. Then it’s VENETIAN SUN at 9/2! If she’s not going there is value in finding the winner.

ROYAL FIXATION is next in the market at 5/1. With a better start she’d have smoked VENETIAN SUN.

She looked a proper weapon. She could be the answer for this Group 2 which Ed Walker won last year. We’re on!

The other horse we want to highlight comes from the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes.

CINDERELLA’S DREAM reversed the form with CRIMSON ADVOCATE - the straight course and a lack of early pace were probably the reasons behind this.
Her big target for the end of the year will be the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare, a race that should really suit.

However, we want to give a quick nod to JANUARY in second. She has progressed really nicely this season to now place in two Group 1s. Aidan O’Brien’s job now will be to get a Group 1 win under the belt, and she is well within her rights to do this. She has plenty of ability, and it seems like O’Brien already has a plan.

He said: “January has a lot of ability and she keeps improving. She's getting there and I think we're on the right road. There's a Group 1 at Deauville [Prix Rothschild] on August 3 that might suit her.”

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