DAQMAN OVER THE MOON WITH 71 POINTS PROFIT: Daqman unleashed a quartet of winning bets, landing a 71-point first-day York bonanza, as he gave the word: Sea Moon (WON 11-2), the St Leger winner, runs today!
HE HITS VOLTIGEUR DOUBLE WHAMMY: In a double-whammy bid, Daqman opposed the Pricewise horse Namibian (5th 9-2) as he went all out for Sea Moon, and he also laid Midday (2nd 5-2). His other winner was Entifaadha (WON 7-2).
2.00 York: Winners by stall of the six races at York yesterday were 3, 2, 4, 4, 5, 4, and 16 of the 18 placed horses came from single-figure draws.
It was obvious that low numbers would have an advantage in races round the bend, but I correctly forecast that the opening straight-course sprint would go low, since the pace was all on that side, potentially knocking out Irish Heartbeat (did well to be fourth), Kanaf (fifth), Ritual, Ancient Cross, Ginger Ted and the Pricewise horse, Rain Delayed.
So it proved with a result by stall of 3-1-7 (in a field of 19), even though they raced mainly down the middle, and the same thing happened in the nursery later on (5-3-6 of 16).
Unfortunately, in today’s opener, there is a sprinkling of potential pace high, middle and low, but nothing definite and I can’t see the first being the fastest race all day, as it was yesterday.
But it has thrown up the winners of the Mill Reef, Middle Park, Sirenia and Grand Criterium in the last four years, so we should be looking for a touch of class.
The horses of whom that is implied – in that they are well entered up in two-year-old ‘classics’ – are West Leake Diman, Bogart, Crown Dependency, Gerfalcon, Miss Work Of Art, Parc De Launay and Red Art.
All bar Gerfalcon and the Barry Hills pair – West Leake Diman and Red Art – have already raced in Group company. The Hills horses didn’t go a yard yesterday.
Both sides of Gerfalcon’s pedigree suggest soft ground should be an advantage, and he has had his win form boosted by horses behind; Bogart (had Parc De Launay well in rear) and Crown Dependency (holds Miss Work Of Art) have already run well on the soft.
I’ll take, Gerfalcon (stall 2) at 17.5 on Betdaq this morning, greatly fearing Crown Dependency (in 4), who is better than the bare form and the return to 6f is a further advantage. Bogart (stall 19) at 13.0 gives me a bet on the other side of the track.
2.30 York (Lowther Stakes): Key races are the Princess Margaret (Angels Will Fall) and the Queen Mary (Best Terms in stall 10), and you normally need experience as well as class, though Russian Rhythm and Queen’s Logic had both run only twice, unbeaten.
Ireland hasn’t had a Lowther winner since 1986 But David Wachman’s Fire Lily, running on late behind Best Terms in the Queen Mary, has already disposed of Ballydoyle’s After (stall 11 today) and beat the colts, too, in the Anglesey on the soft.
Gamilati (4.6 this morning) beat Shumoos at Newmarket far more readily than did Best Terms at Ascot and, if she acts on the ground, will be very hard to beat, though Fire Lily looks solid value at 7.4.
3.05 York: Four-year-olds, who lead three-year-olds 5-4, the rest nowhere, since the turn of the century, seem to have been handed the reins today.
And, in yesterday’s races on the turn, high-drawn horses were being thrown wide or put out of their stride in the sticky conditions.
This suggests a short-list of Emirates Dream, who can go well fresh and has won at York (though Frankie Dettori prefers Invisible Man); Pintura, high in the handicap but a soft-ground lover; Mont Agel, 2lb lower than when beaten a head on the track in May; and Masked Dance, a grey who also likes some cut but has done all his winning at 7f. They should all get an early tow round those turns from the likes of Eton Rifles.
Harrison George is down 10lb since that York race of Mont Agel’s at the Dante meeting and, though drawn wide, the Stoute improver, Markazzi, should like the ground, as a son of Dansili.
The Betdaq 10-1 shots Mont Agel and Harrison George appeal most, with the ‘could be anything’ Markazzi as the stakes saver, coming out them down the outside.
3.40 York (Yorkshire Oaks): Group-1 winners from the current and the year-previous Classic generations dominate this, with the three-year-olds leading 12-8.
But Crystal Capella is two out of two at York; she’s beaten the colts this season and the Stoute-stable stock is riding as high as ever after yesterday’s Sea Moon sensation.
Unfortunately that means you won’t get much of a price and, with stats and a Classic double (Newmarket Guineas and Irish Oaks) to boast, Blue Bunting seems better value at 3.85 than ‘Crystal’ at 4.5, as I write.
Though The Curragh finish suggests it will be very close among the Classic front rank – there was only around a length between Blue Bunting, Banimpire, Wonder Of Wonder and Laughing Lashes – the ground needs to dry out for Banimpire and Wonder Of Wonders.
Blue Bunting has a pacemaker to bring out her flying finish, and best value at the odds is Laughing Lashes. Fran Berry lost his whip near the finish at the Curragh and, when they’re all in heap like that, you’ve got to have the odds. Thanks to Betdaq, you get them, lashings of them: 11.0 as I write.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET (to win 20pts) 1.2pts win and place GERFALCON, 1.6pts win BOGART, and 1.6pts win (stakes saver) CROWN DEPENDENCY (2.00 York)
BET 5.5pts win GAMILATI and 3.1pts win FIRE LILY (2.30 York)
WIN-30 JACKPOT: 3pts win on each HARRISON GEORGE and MONT AGEL, with 0.8pts win (stakes saver) MARKAZZI (3.05 York)
BET (win 20pts) 6.8pts win BLUE BUNTING and 2pts win and place LAUGHING LASHES (3.40 York)
BET 4.5pts win (nap) FIELD OF MIRACLES (4.15 York)
BET 4pts win MEGALALA and 1pt win (stakes saver) KINGS TROOP (6.15 Epsom)
