An interesting 5f maiden for colts and fillies featuring a few form horses and a potentially decent debutant from the Mark Johnston yard.
Pepper Lane ran a creditable race on debut, narrowly losing out in a three-way photo at Ripon. Her task today is not going to get any easier as this looks to be a step up in class. However, she sets the mark for the others to attain.
Whelkeen Rock is a difficult colt to assess after travelling very well at Haydock on terrible ground at 6f he completely tailed off in the final furlong almost stopping to a walk. He may be a different proposition this time on better ground and on a quicker 5f. The booking of Joe Fanning maybe a slight negative. Certainly be interesting to see how this juvenile fares today.
Once again, this is the time of year when Brian Smart starts to bring out a few better juveniles and the betting should indicate the likelihood of this ones chances.
Capercaillie is the interesting two-year-old in this field. Costing $375,000, this filly has already been entered to run in two listed and a stakes race and I would be surprised if she hasn't got ability. Perhaps her only downfall may be running over 5f and inexperience, but I can see this Johnston two-year-old taking some beating.
A watching race.
Race review: 'A good race with two talented juveniles leading the way. Capercaillie looked to be travelling well from the start and had things her own way until Exgray ran on like a train and made it a close call. These two made Pepper Lane look very slow and she isn't without a touch of ability (perhaps enough to win an auction race). Makbullet ran well to get third and could have a fair chance at a lower level.'