Rob Roy heads for Stoute glory road
Apr 30 2005 By Doug Moscrop, The Journal
When it comes to knocking the rough edges off classic material in time for the Guineas, Sir Michael Stoute takes some beating.
Among his five winners, only King's Best, successful in 2000, had as many as four runs beforehand and was the only one to contest a pattern race as a juvenile.
Golan, who triumphed the following year, didn't make his debut as two-year-old until after August, and this year's contender Rob Roy was first seen in public in October.
While Rob Roy's maiden success at Newmarket has taken a few knocks, he couldn't have made a bigger impression and he was the only colt to take out of the recent Craven Stakes.
Mick Kinane found himself short of room when it really mattered and he had to wait until inside the final furlong before finding daylight. He finished strongly and would have beaten Democratic Deficit in another stride or two.
He emerged as the best Guineas prospect from the field and still showed signs of inexperience, so significant improvement is on the cards.
It takes a brave man to say that Stoute can't deliver the goods with him in today's UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas as he did with King's Best who was also beaten in the Craven trial.
I will be surprised if Democratic Deficit can confirm that form and he also has some ground to make up on Dubawi on their running in the National Stakes at the Curragh last year.
Dubawi is a red-hot favourite and deserves to be on what he has achieved so far. He was unbeaten as a juvenile and won a private trial in Dubai ahead of this first classic of the season.
Many of the professionals, however, will be keen to lay him, especially as Zafonic is the only market leader to have obliged in the last 15 years.
Satchem, formerly trained by Clive Britain, is Godolphin's second string. He was third to Dubawi in the recent trial and it's hard to imagine him causing an upset.
Kieren Fallon has opted for Footstepsinthesand rather than Aidan O'Brien's other hope Oratorio. A son of Giant's Causeway, he won both his starts as a two-year-old and Jamie Spencer, who rode him then, is adamant that the colt will be seen to greater effect on a faster surface.
By O'Brien's standards, Oratorio had a lot of racing in his first season. He won four of his seven races though, ending the campaign by chasing home Shamardal in the Dewhurst Stakes, and it will be no surprise to see him figuring in the finish.
Iceman will be suited by the conditions and looks best of the others, but Rob Roy can come out on top against Dubwai and Footstepsinthesand.
Ashdown Express has tons of ability but has an uncanny knack of getting himself beaten.
By the time he delivered his challenge at Newmarket on his reappearance, Quito had the prize sewn up.
While he is not one to take a short price about, he is capable of winning a big prize and the VCbet Palace House Stakes looks the right sort of early-season opportunity.
Former BHB chairman Peter Savill can recoup some of the 48,000 guineas it cost him for Selective when the six-year-old has his second run in his colours in the totesport.com Thirsk Hunt Cup.
Having his first run for Dandy Nicholls, the gelding offered plenty of encouragement for the future when racing over an inadequate trip at Doncaster behind stable companion Merlin's Dancer.
Over the jumps at Hexham tonight, Mind How You Go looks a good bet for the IBetx.com Betting Exchange Handicap Hurdle.
He ran only three times during the winter after a spell on the sidelines and performed better with each outing. He had no chance with Migwell at Kempton last time but this is an easier contest.
For point-to-point enthusiasts, the George F White Heart of All England Maiden Hunters' Chase is always a coveted prize to win, and Dave Parker is hoping Benbeoch, ridden by his partner Pauline Robson, can build on his three wins this season between the flags.
