Tuesday 19 May 2009

2:50 Goodwood (20th May)

A fillies' maiden race over 6f with a couple of form horses and strange jockey bookings for the a number of unraced.

Two form horses on show here. La Pantera is tissue favourite but I can't say I was impressed by her performance on debut. That was a pretty poor race and this filly by Captain Rio is rather small and lightly built. It might be the case that a step up to 6f on better ground will bring about improvement. Patrick Hills rode that day and today Hughes is in the saddle which may indicate greater hopes, however, I wouldn't jump in at short odds as the Windsor form looks weak to me.

Anjomarba has had her limitations exposed in a competitive race at Wolverhampton and she looks more of an auction horse to me and probably better suited to 5f.

It wouldn't be a surprise to see an unraced juvenile win this race. What is interesting here is that a number of these debutantes have unusual jockey bookings, either riding for trainers you wouldn't expect or contrasting with initial five-day declarations. These are detailed below.

Firstly, It's A Deal has a negative jockey booking with Saleem Golam riding and Jim Crowley (who must have had the choice) is riding Agony And Ecstasy, who additionally has been given a stakes race entry.

Ashkalara was originally a booked ride for Kirsty Milczarek but she has chosen to take one ride at Lingfield (2:35 Mixing) which doesn't give encouragement to Howes juvenile even though it has been entered for a stakes race.

Flyinflyout has a stakes race entry, which adds to her interest.

Eddie Ahern was booked early to ride Falling Angel at the five-day declarations so this may be the favoured runner for Cole.

This looks a very confusing affair with the form horses not attaining the highest of standards and the unraced having queries regarding jockey bookings.

A watching race.

Race review: 'La Pentara won quite well after half struggling to go the pace until the final furlong. She continued Hannon's hold on this race in recent years and improved markedly for the step up to 6f. There is no doubt this filly had something of a transformation here. The Paul Cole duo ran well and looked for much of the way to hold the aces. Both showed good speed and quite well built for fillies and capable of better. This was a strange race giving the impression that few juveniles were capable of winning today and this was expressed with a fluctuating market. Anjomarba has an element of speed but ideally needs 5f and a drop in class.'