This weeks look at the weekly jottings of the sprint handicapper starts with Class 4 Handicap at Windsor on 5th July which was won by Desert Poppy quite convincingly despite an awkward head carriage, as a result she is raised 3lb to 79 which is fair in my view and leaves room for further improvement. Equuleus Pictor needs the word soft in the going so was never going to be in contention and as a result he is generously dropped 2lb to 78.
Next up is an interesting 3yo Class 2 6f Handicap at Newmarkets July Meeting which saw Fireback beat Bagamayo by 3/4 of a length with Gene Autry and Take Ten close behind. This race has been won by some good sprinting sorts in the past and it is form that we can rely on as the season progresses.
1st Fireback up 7lb to 91
2nd Bagamayo up 4lb to 100
3rd Gene Autry up 3lb to 95
4th Take Ten up 2lb to 87
The latter off 87 can surely make amends and will be placed to effect by Mark Johnston. There were several top performers that make this form solid.
The Class 3 3yo Handicap at Chester last Friday was good in that it was run in a time only slightly slower than the following days Listed Stakes won by Blue Jack. It was won by Diamond Johnny by a neck from Diman Waters with Tawabb 3rd and the unlucky Dancing Red Devil in 4th. The second Diman Waters is probably the one to take out of the race as he wasnt best suited by the course and off a mark of 80 is capable of winning for Eric Alston.
Palace Moon ran 3rd in the Wokingham and escaped a penalty however he wasnt so lucky here as he got 5lb for coming 2nd in the Bunbury Cup which puts him up to 110. Signor Peltro should be kept in the notebook despite finishing 6th here as he comes with a flourish at the end and the leaders were not coming back to them for the whole meeting.
Two 3yo's dominated the Group 3 fillies and mares Stakes at York on Friday and they continued to show what a fine bunch of sprinters they are. Rose Blossom was the worthy winner after leading from start to finish in a fast time and as a result she is up 8lb 103 with the 2nd Tropical Treat up 8lb as well to 102.
On Saturday at Ascot the Class 2 Handicap wnet the way of Rowe Park by a neck from Monsieur Joe with Prohibit 3rd. Present Alchemy dissapointed in last but it was Sonny Red who showed as though a step up could be near, he is now down to a mark of 95 and he was 5th in the Ayr Gold Cup off 100.
The final race to look at is the Class 3 Handicap at York on Saturday over 6f won by Hotham by a short head from Discanti with Gap Princess in 3rd. The winner was raised 4lb to 95 whilst the 2nd and 3rd were raised 3lb to 84 and 2lb to 82. Internationaldebut has been mentioned in this article previously and he was running on here and maybe coming back into form. Several behind were dropped as follows :-
Atlantic Story 2lb to 83 - was running well off 90 last summer
Saucy Brown 2lb to 87 - 2nd in Class 2 off 90 on Good to Soft in March.
River Falcon 3lb to 73 - Needs to be put in a Class 4 now.
Harlech Castle 3lb to 79 - sure to run better next time with this under his belt.
