Thoughts on Today’s Runners
Sarsen Farm sends out three runners this afternoon. First up is Sognatore in the 4.25 at Wolverhampton. Adam McNamara is in the irons for the one mile handicap and half a furlong and they are drawn in stall 10. The wide draw isn’t ideal, however Sognatore ran well on his first start in handicap company last time out in a higher grade race. Dropping back a furlong is probably not ideal, but in his favour this is a slight ease in class.
This is quite a tight handicap, with several unexposed horses venturing into handicap company against some who have been running well at this level recently. Headora and Blu Boy stepping up in trip are interesting; both return for their first start as three year olds as geldings. Kalma looks on pedigree the type to improve from two to three and that is often the way this yards’ horses are typically campaigned. Highly Dancer already a handicap winner had valid excuses last time and could well enjoy this extra furlong. Beijing Billy is more exposed than most, but drops back quite a bit in trip and sports blinkers for the first time, which could well be the key to getting the ability he has displayed in some of his starts. Arthur’s Angel and Spirit of Rowdown have a level of form in this grade that has them pretty close together which probably sets the standard here.
Sognatore races for Capture The Moment and Crowd Racing. He is by Vadamos, out of the Dalakhani mare, Of Course Darling. Sognatore will be led up by yard manager, Lauren Webb.
The second runner from Sarsen Farm is Belletti in the 5.00 at Wolverhampton. James Sullivan is taking the reins for the mile and a quarter maiden fillies’ stakes. The pair are drawn in stall 7. Belletti was very green on her debut when she was never able to get into the race, she looks to have at least learnt from that experience and the step up in distance should allow her to get involved in the action. She’ll learn more again this time round.
Save A Forest probably just sets the standard on her course and distance third last time out, but there are several horses who showed promise on debut and looked as if they would all come forward for the race, Aura Blue, Breakfastattiffanys and Aliomaana. Newcomer Lady Allegro boasts an attractive pedigree but the progeny of her sire Australia generally progress with racing.
Belletti was bred by and races for Gary and Lesley Middlebrook. She is by Belardo, out of the Fastnet Rock mare, Intrigue. She will be led up by James Pulley.
Our final runner of the day is Secret Acquisition at Kempton Park. The filly runs in the 5.05 with Richard Kingscote on board. The pair are drawn wide in stall 11 for the mile and a half handicap. Secret Acquisition got hampered coming out the gates last time out and was entitled to need the race following a long lay off. The extra distance should be in her favour on her first attempt over a mile and a half. The wide draw is not ideal but matters less over this trip.
An interesting race, with Devizes looking for a four timer, he steps up in class a fair but hasn’t raced that much for a four year old and could be improving. The headgear seemed to be the making of French Minstrel on his first crack at a mile and half last time out and there could be more to come from him too. Anisopetra also remains lightly raced but has looked more suited to longer trips than this, Merweb has run well on two recent starts over course and distance and that probably represents the form benchmark.
Secret Acquisition is by Sea The Moon, out of the Galileo mare, Maria Letizia. She races for Gary and Lesley Middlebrook, and was bred by Normandie Stud. She was purchased as a yearling at Tattersalls Book 2. Secret Acquisition will be led up by Ilse Belien, and overseen by travelling manager, Shaun Johnson.