Equinties - the rematch

Gm Equinauts

Everyone loves a good rematch, especially when the outcome of it is still failry unpredictable. The Thrilla in Manila, Watford vs Leicester City of 2013 Championship play-off semi-final, and Kauto Star vs Denman. Sporting history is littered with beautiful battles which delivered on the hype

and it looks like we could get to see another high-profile rematch this summer, but will it live up to the billing?

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUND UP

THE REMATCH!

CALANDAGAN and JAN BRUEGHEL put on a great duel in the Group 1 Coronation Cup on Oaks Day last month, and the rematch is ON as they are set to meet again, and quite soon, as both should be heading to the King George at Ascot later this month!

The CALANDAGAN camp would have been frustrated at the bare result last time, but it was his first run for two months after a good second in the Sheena Classic, and it was his maiden outing at Epsom. Furthermore, he simply ran into a 110% JAN BRUGHEL who had been trained to the minute by Aidan O’Brien. The master of Ballydoyle has won the race 10 times, so he knows what to do when it comes to the Coronation Cup.

We don’t have any confirmation from O’Brien regarding JAN BRUGHEL, but three weeks ago, after he won the Oaks with MINNIE HAUK, he said: "There's definitely every chance Jan Brueghel might go for the King George but he's still behind Los Angeles now.”

And now, following a success in he Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, we have an update from the CALANDAGAN camp, as Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: “He seems to have come out of the race fine so far, Francis tells me he has taken it well, and all things going well, we would probably aim him at the King George, that would be the plan.

“He’s performed very well over the mile and a half at Ascot before and that is in his favour and after his confidence booster the other day – if he’s fine from now until Ascot – then we would be up for taking on Jan Brueghel again, I don’t know if we will win, but we’ll give him a good run for his money.”

He beat a couple of nice horses at Saint-Cloud on Sunday, notably AVENTURE, and based on his form with CITY OF TROY, ANMAAT, and SEE THE FIRE, he is clearly very good.

If a fresh JAN BRUEGHEL and an in-form CALANDAGAN meet in the King George, there will be opinions aplenty on social media.

REDEMPTION

Having experienced the highs of being the Guineas & Derby favourite, THE LION IN WINTER is on a bit of a redemption mission.

So far this season, he’s been rushed by Aidan O’Brien to make the Dante before going on to finish 14th of 18 at 7/1 in the Derby. Yep, that’s a fall from grace.

If there’s any man that can get THE LION IN WINTER back to his Acomb Stakes-winning self, it’s O’Brien, and the boss of Ballydoyle has decided to supplement him for the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat this weekend.

We love this move. All season, we’ve said how he’s a quick-striding horse who has bags of speed. He got away with it in the Dante, but he was massively found out at Epsom, so coming back to seven furlongs should really suit. After all, he did break the York seven-furlong course record in the Acomb last year when beating RULING COURT, the subsequent 2000 Guineas winner.

It’s worth pointing out how we could see a much different horse this weekend.

We all know he was unfit in the Dante, so there was an excuse, and the Derby had been such a long-term plan that ‘The Lads’ had to follow through with the effort, even if they knew he wouldn’t win.

So, both runs this year have excuses, and he’s been supplemented for this new Deauville task over a distance that is more suitable. They wouldn’t supplement him just for fun, would they? Furthermore, he was also given an entry for the new Group 1 City Of York Stakes (August 23rd), so he could easily go from this weekend to York and run in two Group 1 seven-furlong contests.

This weekend won’t be easy thanks to SHADOW OF LIGHT and COSMIC YEAR (who’s form is working our very well), but if the same horse shows up that won the Acomb last year, he will put up a proper fight.

STATS OF THE DAY

Only one standout stat today and that’s for RADIANCE in the 15.02. Top jockey Ryan Moore is 2 from 3 when riding for Boughey at Yarmouth.

RISK ON

One bet one winner yesterday for this section. Today we like one at Kempton and it’s trainer is normally one you’d be backing on Kempton’s turf in December!

16.37 DYSRT ENOS

This filly is very good on the flat and we think she has the turn of foot for 11f. If you convert her hurdles form to a flat rating, she’d be about 90 which means she should be winning this easily even if Johnny Burke doesn’t know his way around the Kempton track! Looks a solid bet for a standard win stake 15/8.

Keep watching our X account @equinties, we’re punting live at Newbury tonight!