Tag: Arab Spring

Princess Of Wales’s Stakes Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Sir Michael Stoute has farmed the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes over the years and seeks a remarkable tenth victory with Arab Spring and Hillstar on Thursday.

For those of us with long memories, his first winner was with the Aga Khan’s Shardari back in 1986. Rock Hopper and Saddler’s Hall followed up in the early 90’s with Little Rock winning in 2000. His most recent winners have been Gamut, Papal Bull, Doctor Fremantle, Crystal Capella and Fiorente.

Of course, Fiorente went on to win the Melbourne Cup last year for Gai Waterhouse and it is not impossible that Arab Spring could one day line up in the great race. He has done nothing but improve all season, starting off in a lowly maiden at Kempton on the all-weather and progressing through the handicap.

Victories at Doncaster and York followed and he then defied an 8lbs rise to win at Royal Ascot last month. The race panned out perfectly for Ryan Moore as he sat handy before kicking for home in the straight. Unlike some jockeys who shall remain nameless, Moore invariably seems to have his horse in the right position. It is very rare that you find him trapped at the rear of the field.

Havana Cooler (third) and Dashing Star (fifth) at Ascot did not run badly at Haydock in the Old Newton Cup on Saturday but this still represents a rise in class for Arab Spring. His winning mark of 104 still gives him a few pounds to find to win this.

Frankie Dettori rides Hillstar who plugged on to take a remote second to stable companion Telescope in the Hardwicke Stakes. Some pundits will have you believe that Telescope is a champion racehorse but the bare form suggests he has some way to go yet. Just behind Hillstar were Pether’s Moon and Forgotten Voice, admirable horses but rated around 110.

My regular readers will know that Dandino was a long range fancy for the Melbourne Cup in which he came an honourable fifth. He finished only sixth at Ascot and you get the feeling that he is being brought along steadily for a return trip down under. Gatewood has been to Australia and lost his way completely but has gradually picked up the pieces. He lost out to Sheikhzayedroad here last time and this looks a better race.

I cannot pretend that 7-4 is a great price for Arab Spring but he is the logical choice to continue the great run of Stoute in this race.

Arab Spring at 7-4 Paddy Power, William Hill

York Friday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It has been a tough week at York and yesterday’s Dante result hardly clarified the Epsom Derby picture. Supporters of True Story have to be disappointed with his third place effort and they finished in a bit of a heap. Arod is probably the horse to take out of the race but perhaps he is more of a St Leger candidate than a Derby horse. His free running style in the early stages and his tendency to take a while to hit top gear will count against him on the Surrey track.

The third and final day of a long week looks like a red-letter day for Sir Michael Stoute. He has four runners, all with leading chances. Arab Spring should get the ball rolling in the handicap at 2.15. It is true that he is up 11lbs for his facile Doncaster victory but Sir Michael has entered him for the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes. He has followed a similar route with his lightly-raced older horses in the past and Arab Spring shapes like a potential Group horse.

Next up is Gospel Choir in the Yorkshire Cup. He was most impressive when sweeping to victory in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket where his victims included last year’s Irish Derby winner Trading Leather. Pether’s Moon was second and he ran another solid race last week.

The toughest rival will be Tac De Boistron who breezed home at Ascot in the Sagaro Stakes. The form may be questionable as neither Simenon nor Harris Tweed appeared to run their races. Even so, he is a proven Group 1 stayer and must be feared.

Radiator was hyped beyond belief after winning a maiden at Lingfield by 15 lengths. Admittedly that is a rare occurrence but she was way too short at 11-10 for the Newmarket race won by Miss France from Lightning Thunder. Radiator was fourth but that form does not look too dusty after the 1-2 filled the same places in the 1000 Guineas!

The final leg of the Stoute four-fold is Mairise in the closing handicap over a mile and a half. The bare form is nothing to write home about but she was staying on strongly at Yarmouth last time over two furlongs shorter than she faces tomorrow. There aren’t many Stoute horses running with a handicap mark in the low seventies and the son of Authorized should be up to the task.

Arab Spring 2.15 York at 11-8 Paddy Power

Gospel Choir 2.45 York at 9-2 William Hill

Radiator 3.15 York at 9-2 William Hill

Mairise 5.00 York at 2-1 William Hill, Bet365