Neither methinks for Ballydoyle's latest putative successor to four time Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats. Very doubtful in my eyes, that he will stay the extreme distance and at 2/1 is an obvious lay. The remainder of the card is rather uninspiring, but Michael Owen's, Brown Panther, who won recently at Haydock, showing bundles of potential, is worth monitoring in the last. Ditto Marksmanship (won decent Curragh maiden) in the Tercentenary Stakes.
The temporary lull offers an opportunity to reflect on the talking points so far. Yesterday saw Canford Cliffs beat Goldikova in an excellent Queen Anne. An accomplished effort by horse and rider who appeared to win with a bit in hand. Will he get his chance to tackle St. James Palace Stakes victor Frankel? Did we learn anything from his somewhat strange showing. Initial reaction was that Tom Queally's tactical manoeuvring caused his alarming deceleration but it was later reported that he reached Swinley Bottom before pulling up (hardly the actions of a weary horse). Sir Henry looked perplexed afterwards and we will have to wait and see how goes next time. An interesting analysis can found here (http://www.theirishfield.ie/site/article.php?id=318&cid=1). Where ever he shows up, he won't be winning if he does not settle and race normally.
Poorly excecuted tactics were also partly responsible for So You Think's demise, when he was caught late by Rewilding, who benefited from a determined Dettori drive. It was good to see that Godolphin's competitiveness seems to have been reawakened with Sheikh Mohammed looking particularly pleased during the post race interviews (credit to Racing Post race reader for spotting Debussy's role). Despite all, my pocket is still peeved following Aidan O'Brien's admission that he did not have him fully tuned for a Group 1 race at Royal Ascot!!!!. Nevertheless, SYT ought to improve and it sets up a very interesting middle-distance season.
cheers....
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