Ben Morgan shares his September shortlist of track hopefuls
City Of Troy sealed his triumphant British season with the Derby hero landing the Juddmonte International in style at York.
The Ballydoyle star’s powerful performance might have added fresh spice to a possible showdown with Economics in the Irish Champions Stakes at Leopardstown on September 14. But it looks more likely City Of Troy will be carefully set up for a cross-Atlantic trip and a crack at the Breeders Cup Classic in November – with an All-Weather run touted as more likely preparation.
Meanwhile we’re looking ahead closer to home for the coming weeks with a glance across the talent which has been bubbling up – sometimes under the radar – in recent action.
Ballymount Boy – An above average two-year-old, Ballymount Boy could easily have been discarded on his next run as his form figures are not inspiring. However, I saw plenty of encouragement last time out at Goodwood as he stayed on powerfully into sixth having been in an unpromising position turning into the straight. That was on quick ground, which he copes with, but he is so much more effective on a softer surface that he really has to be high on this shortlist given the time of year where the ground begins to change. Any 7f/1m handicap on a softer surface will have to be high on the agenda.
Knightswood – I thought this lad was a big eye-catcher at Goodwood as he was denied a run several times before rattling home for 5th, beaten little over a length. That was over 1m 6f and that run clearly convinced connections to try 2m at York where he was underwhelming although potentially unsuited by track position. If dropped back to 1m 6f I think he is certainly on a winning mark after running very well at Newmarket and Goodwood as mentioned previously. There should be some nice pots at Doncaster, Haydock, Ascot and Newmarket before the season is out and he seems to run well everywhere so I wouldn’t be afraid to see him in a top race off a low weight.
City Of Troy
Summerghand – If I were to have an actual noticeboard where I used sticky notes to detail the horses on this shortlist then I may as well paint this lad’s name straight on the board as he is constantly on my ‘must back next time out list’. I thought he would have his day at Ripon last time out but he could get out quick enough in order to mount a serious challenge but still won his side comfortably enough. Clearly very well handicapped, I was racking my brains trying to think of a track which he could run at and get a clear shot at going close and the obvious race from here would be the Ayr Gold Cup for which he is currently 33/1. A stiff finish will sort plenty out and with this lad so strong in the finish, if he is going to win a big one this year then it will be this race.
Jewelry – An incredibly well-bred filly, she defied a huge market drift on debut to win easily in what I thought was a hot race. She travelled sweetly into the race before Cieren Fallon began to ask questions as she approached the two market leaders. She picked up almost immediately and shot past them under hands and heels riding. That performance was very impressive in my eyes but I was surprised to see she has no fancy entries so connections may decide to take the slow approach but if she is out in the next 4 weeks I will be very interested in backing her. There is plenty of stamina in her breeding so I wouldn’t be surprised to see her stepped up to 7f if not a mile before the season is out.
Talis Evolvere – Another who was on August’s shortlist is this lad who hasn’t had much of a chance to show why he was on the shortlist initially. He couldn’t get a run in the Golden Mile but finished with plenty of running left which consequently enticed me into backing him in the Shergar Cup, a meeting I have begun to despise. He was given an absolutely shocking ride which had the jockey been a young British rider on a normal Monday afternoon at Thirsk, they would have undoubtedly picked up a ban. He finished strongly still and the only real positive is that he will be a bigger price the next day hopefully after another disappointing run. I’m sure he can win a nice pot before the season is out.
Boardman – I’ve been waiting for this lad to return to form and it looks as though he has now found his best form. He rattled home at Chester and Haydock most recently which showed he is in good heart. Unfortunately he is another who being a hold up merchant needs everything to drop right but with the ground now changing in the next four weeks I hope he will be able to catch the leaders before the finishing line. Courses like Haydock and Chester will come under consideration again as he has a good record around both.
Star Of Orion – A switch to Eve Johnson Houghton’s stable certainly hasn’t had a negative effect on this veteran as he has returned this season with two good runs at Goodwood and Newmarket respectively. Having such a strong course record at Newmarket, I suggest connections may be eyeing a return to Suffolk in order to get his head back in front. The form of the last race looked strong albeit it was only a small field so I would be keen to follow that race as they come out in the next few weeks.
Nazron – An unlucky loser at Chester, this Roger Varian inmate put things right at Windsor last time out when travelling strongly before putting the race to bed with a killer turn of foot. I was on him that day but he did impress me with the ease that he did it and a 9lb rise isn’t at all surprising. He looked like he could really appreciate a big field where he can travel in behind a strong pace before quickening up late so all the top 6f handicaps in the next 6 weeks will have to come under consideration and I wouldn’t mind being on him in any of those races at double figure prices.
Black Run – I’m pretty sure this progressive 3yo is a Group horse but his handicap mark suggests he isn’t quite there yet. This leaves him a slightly awkward position where he is between a rock and a hard place but a top level handicap, something like the Cambridgeshire, might just see him in his best light. The unique trip might just be his optimum and the track should pose no problems as he has already won there this season. His run at Ascot and Deauville suggest he is a top level performer but I think he needs to get his head in front in a good race to prove it to the handicapper.
Diamondonthehill – An eye-catching run at Thirsk where he was just chinned on the line by a progressive horse led me in to backing him at Haydock last time out where he put in a no show. However I am not going to give up on him yet as I think he could quite easily take a Class 3 or Class 4 handicap before the season is out. Michael Dods will undoubtedly be targeting the same sort of races at the same sort of tracks that he runs so well at and he might just be a good price after his disappointing run last time out.
