We’ve found a few to watch over the weekend, some of which were unlucky last time, as well as a couple with notable gear changes that could be worth following.
Whilst the Godolphin team continue to churn out winners, they have had a few hard luck stories in recent weeks and I think the blue army are about to launch.
We’ll start with the Group 1 All-Star Mile where they’ll be represented by Tom Kitten. The son of Harry Angel looked primed to strike first up on the back of an impressive Warwick Farm trial and he certainly lived up to that as he charged late to get within a nose of Mr Brightside on the line.
Whilst it was a top performance, he was stiff not to win. Dressed up with nowhere to go for much of the straight, he flashed through late to just miss.
He strips fitter, he’ll relish getting out to the mile and draws to get the right run. I’m not taking anything away from Mr B, he is a superstar and he had to work to cross last time so Tom is in for a challenge but I think it’ll be between the two of them.
Notably, the blinkers come off Mr Brightside, with the visors going on for the first time. The Lindsay Park team are obviously looking to get that extra percent from him and this could prove to be a winning move. The visors, which are essentially blinkers with gaps in the cups, aim to give the same effect to make them focus, while allowing them to see what’s coming up beside them.
We know he gives his all and if he can see them coming, it may just be the difference between winning and losing.
Commemorative is one that I have had a high opinion of since she first stepped out at the races and I think she’ll take it to new heights this campaign. An imposing mare, she has always shown plenty of natural talent but has just taken time to fully mature.
It was a hard watch if you were on her when she resumed in the Triscay Stakes. Slowly away, she settled back near the tail and then found trouble in the straight before charging through late to grab third. She does draw wide here but I feel that’s a positive as I think she’s better suited with plenty of room. With a bit of rain around, she’ll get conditions to suit as she is three from three on soft tracks.
Also from the Godolphin charge is Aleppo Pine, who will take his place in either the Todman Stakes on Saturday or the Black Opal Stakes on Sunday. The son of Blue Point was ultra impressive winning an 800m jump out on the Caulfield Heath in late January but he folded late when resuming in the Blue Diamond Prelude. He was found to have pulled up lame in the near fore leg and has since been given a 1000m trial, where he was strong through the line.
A decisive winner at his only other outing, he’s a smart horse with a bright future and he’ll be back in the winner’s stall very soon.
Growing Empire will race without blinkers when he lines up in the Newmarket Handicap on Saturday. The Zoustar colt looked a live chance of taking out the Black Caviar Lightning when he hit the 200m mark but seemed to get lost when he was out in front on his own.
The blinkers were first applied when he was forced to trial after his debut run where he veered off after the line and crashed through the outside fence. He continued to wear them until the beginning of last preparation where he won the Group 3 McNeil Stakes and Listed Poseidon Stakes in dominant fashion and they went back on prior to the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes, where he was nabbed right on the line.
The rise to 1200m will certainly suit and if he hits the front and can see them coming, he’ll be sure to give a good kick.