June 19, 2012
The second day begins with the Jersey Stakes ( G3). A difficult one to work out being restricted to three year olds with 25 runners standing their ground. The official ratings give it to Reply off a mark of 113 on the back of a good third to Power in the Irish Guineas. The form took a knock today in the Saint James Palace but Power was badly hampered so treat the loss with caution. Red Duke was third in the German Guineas to Casper Nechtar and that from must be respected. There are also a couple of unbeaten ones in here headed by Sentaril from the Willie Haggas yard which are unexposed and could be anything. The one that catches the eye is the Aidan O’Brien second string Ishvana. She surprised when second to Samitar in the Irish One Thousand Guineas and looks a filly on the improve. These well bred Ballydoyle fillies, she’s a daughter of Holy Roman Emperor, can often come good. Think Homecoming Queen and once they show improvement they can go on. Incidentally, the fillies ran a quicker time at the Curragh than the colts did and she’s in receipt of 3 lbs from the colts.
In the Windsor Forest (G2) we only have to contend with 13 in the field. The two to top the market are Emulous from the Dermot Weld stable and Nahrain from the Rodger Varian stable. These are two very good fillies, both Group 1 winners, Emulous took the Matron Stakes and Nahrain bagged the Prix De D’Opera before a second in the Breeders Cup Fillies and Mares Turf. The difference between the two could be the edge of fitness the Weld filly possesses having won impressively from One Spirit on her comeback run at the Curragh. The form was subsequently franked when One Spirit went on to win a listed contest at Naas.
The Prince Of Wales (G1) is the centrepiece of the days action. So You Think never quite caught the imagination of the public in the northern hemisphere in the way that he did in Australia. It’s a bit unfair as he’s won four Group 1’s in his time here providing some level of excitement. The high’s being when beaten here by the ill fated Rewilding in this race last year and the subsequent defeat of Workforce in the Eclipse. The field doesn’t offer anything of this quality with only Planteur, Reliable Man and Wigmore Hall being single Group 1 winners. The intrigue may come from the Godolphin colt Farhh having only his fourth run, he won at two, at three and when reintroduced as a four year old and is most certainly highly thought of by connections. However, So You Think remains the class act and for that reason he is not to be opposed.
The last Pattern race of the day is the Queen Mary (G2). It’s even more difficult than the opening Jersey with 27 two year old fillies going to post. Not a lot to go on but if you were inclined to take on the field then David Wachman’s Mironica makes some appeal based on the form of the yard especially regarding his fillies.
Selections
Jersey Stakes – Ishvana 16/1 EW Windsor Forrest Stakes – Emulous 3/1 Win Prince Of Wales Stake – So You Think 1/1 Win Queen Mary Stakes – Mironica 6/1 Win