Vintage Stakes (Group 2)
July 31, 2012
Six favourites in the last ten years have gone on in in the Vintage Stakes.
Ghurair is expected to make in seven in the last ten. Once raced, the son of Elusive Quality won a Newmarket maiden in good style, the form of which has since been boosted by Alfonsa De Sousa (fourth to Ghurair) who won a Leopardstown maiden by 9L. He ran green up the stands rail and will no doubt improve but it’s worth bearing in mind the ground was soft and the time 6 seconds outside standard. You can read that two ways either he will benefit from the better ground and the greenness will be readily overcome or the clock didn’t lie and the Gosden horse was flattered by the run of the race up the stands rail.
Whichever way you read it you must consider taking him on with those with more experience and especially if the experience has been in pattern company.
Olympic Glory won a maiden ran second to Dawn Approach in the Coventry Stakes and followed up winning the Superlative Stakes, both Group 2 contests. Artigiano was fifth and fourth in the same races. Birdman followed up his maiden win with a novice stakes victory before going down a head to Olympic Glory in the Superlative.
Chilworth Icon also has group form having won a Group 3 in Italy and then running fifth in the Group 2 July Stakes. His stable companion Luhaif also ran in the Superlative finishing seventh after he won his previous race by 6L.
Maxentius was twice a winner before running third in the Superlative and Operation Chariot ran eighth after a winning racecourse debut. Tha’Ir’s second run at Ripon was a winning one and was followed up with a listed win in the Chesham Stakes.
Whipper’s Boy twice raced came up trumps in an Epsom maiden last time.
In all that’s a lot of experience for the Gosden colt to overcome. He may well be capable of it but at 5/2 he’s a skinny price.
Birdman’s head to find with Olympic Glory may be the answer here. He raced last in the Superlative and closed with the line coming too quick. He may take gold here.
Recommendation Birdman 7/1 win
