Maiden race better than the norm
May 22nd, 2015 | Marten's Current Racing Diary
Sometimes you see a maiden race that leaves you thinking it may be rather better than the norm, and for me this applied to the 1m 2f maiden run at Sandown on Thursday evening.
The race was won by the 95-rated Proposed, who had run better than his finishing position suggests in the Group 3 Chester Vase and run well in a valuable sales race at Newmarket in April. Richard Hannon had given the son of Invincible Spirit top-class entries, including the Derby. Runner-up was Star Storm, who had caught the eye on his only previous start at Nottingham and is well-regarded by James Fanshawe. The colt which most interested me was Dark Deed, a son of Dansili trained by Sir Michael Stoute. He ran well when third on his debut at Kempton in November and then again when second to Storm The Stars at Leicester in April. He was well supported to win here, but was left a fair way out of his ground by Ryan Moore and despite staying on well never looked like getting to the enterprisingly-ridden winner. There were other promising horses further behind in a race that could pay to follow.
Dark Deed will probably be rated on a mark in the high 80s or around 90 for this and he will be very interesting in a handicap, perhaps over a mile and a half, next time out. He could even be one to keep in mind for a top handicap at Royal Ascot, although he will need to get himself on a slightly higher mark to qualify. In time I expect Dark Deed to earn black type.
Looking ahead 16 colts were left in the Derby at the latest forfeit stage including 2,000 Guineas winner Gleneagles. Aidan O’Brien has also left in Hans Holbein, Kilimanjaro and Giovanni Canaletto but he has scratched Highland Reel, Sir Isaac Newton and Aloft. To my surprise John Gosden has taken Chistophermarlowe out of the race. Frankie Dettori looks like getting the mount on the supplemented favourite Golden Horn.
Paddy Power make Freddy Head’s Solow 8/11 to beat Cirrus Des Aigles in the Prix D’Ispahan at Longchamp on Sunday, while the long-absent Eagle Top’s name appears in the entries for the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on Thursday.
Have a great weekend and bye for now
