There are some very competitive races at Salisbury on Monday but the best bets may lie in the maiden races early in the card. Richard Hannon has a fine record at the track and his filly Tea In Transvaal is having her fifth outing of the season in the 2.20.
At first glance, she may seem a little disappointing having shown plenty of promise on her debut at Ascot. She finished a close fourth and was made favourite for her second outing at Newbury. She came up against a very smart filly in Lightning Thunder and had to settle for second place.
She stepped up to a mile for the first time at Goodwood in September where Richard Hughes attempted to make all. He held all bar Uchenna, going down by a head in the final strides. She ran another good race on her most recent start when third in the maiden race won by Taghrooda. Andrew Balding’s promising Casual Smile was runner-up and the form looks rock solid.
She drops back to six furlongs on Monday and is likely to be right up with the pace. Nassiki Kasta shaped well on her debut and could be a danger but the main threat may come from the unraced Allegria. She is by Dalakhani out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and represents the in-form John Gosden and William Buick combination.
The second division should go to Ryan Moore aboard the once-raced Dutch Romance for Charlie Hills. She ran a race packed full of promise at Newbury when very considerately ridden by Steve Drowne. She stayed on strongly to be less than four lengths adrift of Extremity at the line and looks certain to improve for the experience.
Joohania also ran well on her debut at Kempton whilst Aertex could be better than her first run suggests. Andrew Balding’s Alumina is a daughter of Invincible Spirit and makes her racecourse debut. Dutch Romance should be able to win this on the way to better things.
Tea In Transvaal (2.20 Salisbury)
Dutch Romance (2.50 Salisbury)
