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| Punter's Diary by Malcolm Heyhoe |
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| Updated: 2nd July 2012 - GG.com |
Cool July
The Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 7 signals the start of July's feast of top-class Flat racing, and the mile and a quarter contest is famous for the traditional clash between the older and younger generations, with the latter age group receiving a hefty 10lb weight for allowance yet despite this traditional advantage, honours are even between the generations.
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This time around the Classic class of 2012 has done little to quicken the pulse, Camelot naturally excepted, and the 2012 Coral Eclipse seems sure to be won by an older horse. So You Think was far too sharp for Carlton House and Farrh in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, and trainer Aidan O'Brien has found the key to finally realising the big horse's talent and he will be hard to beat at Sandown. Nathaniel, last year's King George hero, may make his seasonal debut but he is far better over further and had his limitations exposed when well beaten in last autumn's Champion Stakes at Ascot.
On the same day as the Coral Eclipse, Haydock hosts the Lancashire Oaks and this mile and a half contest might well be a target once again for Vita Nova, who would surely have won last year's renewal but for her saddle slipping as she coasted to victory under a red-faced Tom Queally. In the Old Newton Cup at Haydock, backers should look out for any runners from Luca Cumani's yard. Franciscan, a winner at York last time, might be the ideal type for this good handicap prize.
Newmarket's three-day July meeting takes pride of place in the middle of the month and the opening day of July 12 should see a good field assembled for the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes while the accent will be firmly on stamina for the Bahrain Trophy. On the meeting's second day Golden Lilac will be very hard to beat in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes if Andre Fabre sends her across the channel for this top fillies' prize.
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On July 14 the Group1 July Cup will be the day's highlight, and given the paucity of home-grown sprinting talent, this prize may well go the way of the French with Moonlight Cloud looking the most likely winner. Trainer Freddie Head landed this same race with Marchand D'Or a few years back, and Moonlight Cloud could well oblige with the stiff finish in her favour.
York's John Smith's Cup on the same say is easily the season's best mile and a quarter handicap and will be as competitive as ever. Newmarket trainer Roger Varian cost punters dear with Pekan Star's poor show a year ago but if he can oblige Mijhaar to settle better then this son of Shirocco should stand a cracking chance if lifting this valuable pot.
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July's high-class action reaches a climax with the splendid King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, Britain's premier all-aged middle-distance event that takes place a week earlier in 2012 on July 21. If there is some give in the ground Sir Michael Stoute's still improving colt, Sea Moon, should take plenty of beating. He was an easy winner of an above-average Hardwicke Stakes and looks the right type for this Group 1 race.
The Irish Oaks takes place at the Curragh on July 22 and could see a re-match between Princess Highway and The Fugue, and it would be hard to see the latter reversing places from Royal Ascot's Ribblesdale Stakes. Finally, the first day of Glorious Goodwood creeps into the calendar for July with the Lennox and Molecomb Stakes on July 31. Reckless Abandon would look like a strong fancy for the latter race after his blistering Royal Ascot success over the minimum trip.
Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for GG.COM-Horse racing betting, information, news, results and free daily tips
Archive June 2012
