Zarooni Goes South
Ascot holds one of the highlights of the racing calendar on Saturday of which the feature event is the King George and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. However, there are several other quality races on the card, the first of which is the Jaguar XK Winkfield Stakes at 2.05pm. This is a listed event for two-year-olds over a distance of seven furlongs and some decent performers have won this in the past. The most notable being the John Gosden trained, Ravens Pass who went on to win the Breeders Cup Classic at Santa Anita.
Those hoping to be just as good include Deep South trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni and ridden by William Buick. A colt by Red Ransom he created a very favourable impression on his debut when speeding away from UAE Storm in a maiden event at Kempton. The word on the racetrack beforehand suggested he was likely to need the race, and was unlikely to finish ahead of his better-fancied stablemate Postscript. Therefore, to win by almost four lengths indicates that he is an above average youngster.
Latest reports are that he has improved since and has been working very well on the gallops, and the Godolphin outfit are anticipating a big run. He does face some stiff opposition though and the most probable favourite for this is Auld Burns from the Richard Hannon yard. His juveniles have been in cracking form this year and this one made a pleasing first appearance in a small maiden at Salisbury.
Having looked fit and well in the parade ring, he raced prominently throughout before taking an advantage two furlongs out. He kept on well in the closing stages to fend off the challenge of Waiter’s Dream by three parts of a length and has since gone on to win a Newbury maiden in very impressive fashion.
Therefore, the form looks very good and as he is likely to have improved since, his position as market leader is probably justified. On the other hand, he is not the horse with the best form in the book. That title goes to the Mick Channon entrant Galtymore Lad. He looked good when winning a good conditions race over six furlongs at Pontefract back in May. He powered away to score by four lengths from Clarke Lane, which led connections to believe he was good enough to contest the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He was far from disgraced finishing seventh, in what was one of the hottest two-year-old events so far this term. A similar performance would give him a chance in this and is certainly one to consider.
It is hard to know what to make of the Michael Jarvis runner Toolain. He looked all set to make a winning debut in a decent maiden race at Sandown when taking up the running a furlong out. However, he started to hang badly before unseating Frankie Dettori from the saddle just 100 yards from the line.
On his last outing at Wolverhampton, he looked as though he may do exactly the same thing as having taken the lead he again began to hang markedly. This time though, his jockey reacted quickly enough, and straightened him up before going on to win quite convincingly in the end. The reason for him wandering around in the closing stages is difficult to fathom. Either it is a lack of experience or it could be a quirk in his temperament. If temperament is to blame then he becomes a risky proposition in a contest as strong as this. He would also have to improve on what he has achieved so far and there are others in this race with stronger claims on form.
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