7-2 NAP A DERBY-WEEK HIT: Daqman got into top gear for the Derby when he landed his nap, Talyani (WON 7-2), at Ripon yesterday. The three-year-old was unraced so he had no form at all to go on.
ABC GUIDE TO THE OAKS: Daqman continues his Classic countdown today. After a 20.0 bet on the Derby yesterday, he turns his attention to the Oaks on Friday, with his ABC stats-and-facts guide. 11 fillies have been confirmed for the third Classic of the season at the final entry stage on Wednesday morning.
TWO STAR FILLIES TICK OAKS BOXES TOGETHER
A First or second in recognised Oaks trial or Classic (9/10)
B Rated 114 or higher in my assessment yesterday
C Placed 1m 2f or more this season (10/10)
D Placed in the Pattern (10/10)
E Winner over 1m or more (10/10)
F Stallion stamina index 8.8f plus (10/10)
G Trained O’Brien, Gosden or Stoute
ABCDEFG Together Forever
Hat-trick at the end of her first season included the Fillies’ Mile from May Hill winner, Agnes Stewart, after both had been beaten (in different races) by Jack Naylor.
In that respect, the Flame Of Tara (Listed) at The Curragh in August looks momentous, with Jack Naylor first (giving 5lb), Newmarket 1,000 Guineas winner, Legatissimo second, and Together Forever (tried to make all) third.
Her dam’s side casts doubt on Together Forever’s stamina but she seems to take after her sire, Galileo, and she ran a fitter Star Of Seville, giving her 4lb, to a head in the Musidora Stakes at York.
ABCDEFG Star Of Seville
The only other filly to tick all the boxes, but had won a race before pipping Together Forever at York, was receiving weight, and had the run of the race.
However, she is still inexperienced (not see a racecourse until October) and different tactics could bring about a different finish, with the handicapper not sure the result is set in concrete, separating them by only a pound.
ABDE Legatissimo
Could be the ideal mix of speed (from sire Danehill Dancer) and stamina, with dam’s side suggesting that even 1m 6f would be no problem. And it was the rising ground that won her the finish of the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
ACDEFG Diamondsandrubies
Another lightly-raced filly, the going was said not to be in her favour when she landed the Cheshire Oaks by six lengths on good to soft.
She beat only an odds-on maiden winner and a handicapper but more improvement, and faster ground, could put this well-bred sort into the mix.
ACDEG Jazzi Top
The stablemate of Star of Seville won the Newmarket Pretty Polly in the hoofprints of the same yard’s Taghrooda, who went on to take last year’s Oaks.
The Pretty Polly runner-up, Zannda, has since been left for dead by Pleascach, who went on to land the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
ACDF Bellajeu
Her second in the Lingfield Oaks Trial (Wedding Vow third) was with the aid of a hood and the winner let the side down when only eighth of nine in a Group 3 at Chantilly on Sunday.
BDEF Jack Naylor
Beat Legatissimo, giving her weight, as a juvenile and third to Found in France. All the rage in the Oaks market last week after finishing strongly behind Pleascach and Found in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
CDEFG Crystal Zvezda
She’s with the right trainer for a late developer. Won the Newbury trial, which is hardly established enough to give her an ‘A’ in my reckoning, but the handicapper was impressed with what she learned from this lesson and upped her 29lb in one hit.
CDEF Lady Of Dubai
While she beat nothing of note, her Height Of Fashion win was done in the style of a good filly and her granddam won the St Leger.
CDF Al Naamah
I could find no collateral form with the top French fillies, nor with any of ours, but her French trainer is probably second to none in Europe. By Galileo, her dam was a half-sister to New Approach.
FG Qualify
Last of 13 in Newmarket Guineas and again outclassed in the Irish version, well behind Pleascach and Found.
HOMAGE CAN EARN ROYAL HUNT CUP PLACE
3.50 Nottingham Homage can put his best foot forward today. Like Big Baz and Extremity, he wants this to secure a place in the Royal Hunt Cup field.
Homage has fragile feet, so softish ground is essential, as he showed when winning at York at the backend of last year after running six lengths off the winner in the Cambridgeshire, his first run following a setback.
Down a grade today, Homage’s reappearance race at York (blew up final furlong) necessitates this further prep. He looked tasty at 5.0 on BETDAQ early mouse.
Extremity was consistent last year but lost three in a row off the resulting higher mark (well behind Homage, albeit losing a shoe, in the Cambridgeshire).
The ground may suit Newbury Spring Cup third, Big Baz, who is by Pivotal. He’s been second twice on soft but is a bit high in the handicap on what he’s done.
Market Share won a conditions race at Chantilly for Pascal Bary last season. His new yard excels with stable cast-offs, and tries Market Share in a hood today on ground he will appreciate.
4.20 Nottingham (Nottinghamshire Oaks) With £42,000 guaranteed, this former Warwickshire Oaks is not just for the craic.
Luca Cumani farms the meeting and Pleasant Valley won at Pontefract like a Group horse in a handicap, but it was a small field and, while she should get some black type in this Listed, whether she’ll win may rest with how much the ground dries out. She doesn’t want it soft. And she’s badly drawn.
Dream Child was just run out of it at this level at Goodwood and the daughter of Pivotal should enjoy the easy surface.
However, Dream Child and Groovejet – second in the Park Hill Stakes in September – have only ever won races on a man-made surface.
Another Pivotal, Solar Magic (5.9 as I write) is stepped up in trip here. Her Listed defeat over a mile was at the hands of Group-experienced Lady Dutch, and John Gosden’s filly is related to 1m 2f champion Medicean on the dam’s side.
THAHAB TO PAY FOR TONIGHT AT CHELMSFORD
7.50 Chelmsford Thahab (sole ride at the meeting for Frankie Dettori) returns to the scene of his maiden success over 6f, after arriving too late over a furlong shorter the last twice.
I’m following the three-year-olds all night, and hope that Thahab will pay for my bets in two handicaps.
8.20 Chelmsford Hughie Morrison has made this new track his own (three wins from four starters) and I fancy Shifting Moon (8.6 on BETDAQ is big), who stayed on at the finish on the last day and is stepped up in trip, blinkered first time.
Like the favourite Champagne Ransom (saver), she is a three-year-old getting massive weight-for-age dispensation over a bunch of class-6 no-nos.
8.50 Chelmsford The same trainer’s Fruit Pastille (8.50) landed a hat-trick when the blinkers went on last year, but tonight’s contest is tough.
The three-year-olds should have the prize again in this fillies’ handicap. It’s hard to split Gentlemusic and Enlace, first and third here in early May.
But Gentlemusic had a fitness edge in that race and I was impressed with Enlace’s tenacity last time out at Goodwood.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked to win 20 points)
BET 5pts win (nap) HOMAGE (3.50 Nottingham)
BET 4pts win SOLAR MAGIC (4.20 Nottingham)
BET 10pts win THAHAB (7.50 Chelmsford)
BET 2.6pts win SHIFTING MOON and 1.6pts win (stakes saver) CHAMPAGNE RANSOM (8.20 Chelmsford)
BET 4.3pts win ENLACE and 1.5pts win (stakes saver) GENTLEMUSIC (8.50 Chelmsford)
Note: Yesterday’s ante-post stake on Success Days to win 50 points should have been 2.5pts. Sorry about my maths.
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