World Pool tips for Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes day at Newmarket
Frankie on 500 watch as World Pool rolls back to Newmarket
Frankie Dettori is seeking his 500th winner at Newmarket. Emerging French rider Alexis Pouchin is hoping for his first. John and Thady Gosden are trying to seal a first trainers’ championship for a father and son combination. And Heather Main and Gina Mangan are aiming to land a big pot with one of the speediest youngsters around. Newmarket serves up a four-race World Pool menu on Saturday with the added attraction of one of HK racing’s biggest stars aiming to make his name Down Under.
World Pool plays for Newmarket
- 1.30: Totnes (Red Danielle and Lady Boba as Quinella options)
- 2.05: Zoulou Chief (Woodhay Wonder and Invincible Aura as Quinella options)
- 2.40: Queen Emma/Shazam
- 3.15: Inspiral (Msque De Sevigne, Just Beautiful and Heredia as Quinella options)
BRITISH PREMIER EBF FILLIES’ HANDICAP (1.15)
British markets have Whispering Words as strong favourite for her 2000m debut and, with Ryan Moore taking the reins, that will probably be reflected in the World Pool, too.
But the Godolphin filly is no good thing on her handicap bow and a short list with TOTNES on top followed by RED DANIELLE and LADY BOBA might offer something to work with. Lady Boba and Red Danielle chased home a smart rival apiece two starts back before winning snugly last time and there ought to be better to come now they go handicapping.
Totnes has fewer secrets from the assessor but she’s thrived for Andrew Balding this year, winning four times, and the way she kept on to chase home the useful Balance Play at Newbury recently suggests that she’s still fairly treated.
£150,000 TATTERSALLS OCTOBER AUCTION STAKES (2.05)
The two most likely scripts here are simple. Number one involves ZOULOU CHIEF justifying short odds by showing the brazen speed he unleashed to put away a smart field at York’s Ebor Festival in August. And the second involves the hot favourite faltering up the HQ hill to open the door for one or more rivals who are ready to step their game up.
We won’t get rich backing the Chief in the Win pool – as his York win puts him lengths ahead of most of this big field – but there could be some value in trying to find two or three possible improvers as Quinella candidates.
WOODHAY WONDER and INVINCIBLE AURA are the two who appeal. A gutsy success in a valuable Sales race on the July Course shows Woodhay Wonder is fully effective in a big field. The runner-up has franked the form by winning a German Listed race, while Invincible Aura looked more professional than previously when showing improved form at Pontefract and could fly under the radar at a big price here.
BRITISH EBF 40TH ANNIVERSARY PREMIER FILLIES’ HANDICAP (2.40)
Vera Verto adds an interesting Irish angle here but whether Gavin Cromwell’s filly will handle a 9lb rise for a deep ground romp at Listowel remains to be seen.
There are plenty of alternatives but QUEEN EMMA and SHAZAM look a fair duo against the field.
Queen Emma is a typically progressive Haggas handicapper who still looks nicely treated after a fine effort in defeat at Donny, while Shazam impressed with the way she kicked for home when second at Yarmouth last time and looks the sort who could be under rated by WP players.
VIRGIN BET SUN CHARIOT STAKES (3.15)
Swimming against the tide is an important aspect of World Pool punting but INSPIRAL and MQSE DE SEVIGNE are clear of the pack on ratings as the only proven G1 winners in the field and they will corner around seventy per cent of the market as a result.
And that market dominance looks well founded. Inspiral has taken a while to win me over but she was very good in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, beating good males with authority after being switched to offset a wide draw. She’s plainly a worthy favourite but French raider Mqse De Sevigne is only a pound behind her on ratings and fresh from a career best when getting the better of a sustained scrap with the high-class Via Sistina over 2000m at Deauville.
Deciding which of the rest to leave out is the key for Quinella hunters. I’m content to pass on Meditate given that she hasn’t gone on as well as expected this year, while Inspiral’s stablemate Coppice has much more on her plate than when coming out on top in a bunched finish to a Listed race here last week.
But JUST BEAUTIFUL and HEREDIA have more to recommend them for a place or better. Just Beautiful is fresher than most after three runs this year and Paddy Twomey’s filly is in top form after a fine third in Tahiyra’s Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. She’s set to go well from the front on a track that will suit her freewheeling style, while Heredia is a strong-travelling holdup filly who has hit a new level with smooth wins at Haydock and Sandown.
Waller pair look worthy foes as Warrior goes into battle Down Under
Lastly, a few words on one of the most significant international raids by a HK star in years.
Romantic Warrior’s record on home soil – with a Derby and three G1 wins including a runaway defeat of good horses in the Hong Kong Cup last December – has earned him a place among the best 2000m horses in the world.
Saturday’s TAB Turnbull Stakes at Flemington (live on Sky Sports Racing at 6.25 GMT) has been chosen as the springboard for a Cox Plate bid and it will be fascinating to see how hard HK punters swing for him in the World Pool.
Logic suggests they will swing hard – probably down to odds on – and Danny Shum’s gelding is the clear form pick with an international rating of 123.
However, the Warrior concedes weight all round on softer ground than he’s used to in a race that isn’t his main target. He’s also taking his show on the road for the first time and giving 7lb to last year’s runaway Melorose winner Soulcombe and fellow Chris Waller galloper Osipenko, both race fit and bang in form, could prove much trickier than the market suggests.
- Racecards
- Fast results
- Full results and free video replays
- Horse racing news
- Horse racing tips
- Horse racing features
- Download our free iOS and Android app
- Football and other sports tips
- Podcasts and video content
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
