Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Group 3)
Given that Almaqam and Ombudsman pulled 4-lengths clear of the rest of the field, they are the pair to concentrate on. A winning time of 2:06.03 is the fastest time for this race since Regal Reality in 2019 and the 3rd fastest time since 2010. The good ground certainly helped that, as did the even gallop set by Almaqam, who took 6.8s to reach 30 mph from the stalls. A finishing speed of 100% suggests a fast pace and opening furlongs of 13.98 and 11.63s, both of which were the fastest in the field, allowed Oisin Murphy to dictate matters whilst getting several of his rivals out of their comfort zone. At 39.19 mph, Almaqam recorded the fastest top speed in the field and given that he made the running, ran the fastest final furlong in 13.35s and recorded the fastest run-out speed at 31.72 mph, his is the performance to take from this and he is the horse who would appear to be most capable of taking a step into Group 1 company as a result.
As for the runner-up, Ombudsman has produced a career best to chase home Almaqam and given that it was his first start since September, he will be entitled to improve for this. Tracking the lead under Ryan Moore, he was brought wide to challenge and despite a slightly raised head carriage, he ran the fastest 8th and 9th furlongs in 12.07 and 12.06s and may have paid for those exertions when Almaqam began to stay on in the closing stages. Could he reverse this form? It’s possible, but the data would suggest that Almaqam had a fair amount in hand on the rest of the field, even allowing for his fitness edge. He had a longer average stride, a faster top speed and a stronger finish after all. There are certainly more races for Ombudsman to win at this level, and he is unlikely to meet a horse of Almaqam’s quality next time.
Star Sports Henry II Stakes (G3)
A winning time of 3:37.03 would suggest that the Good, Good to Firm in places going description was on point, but the time isn’t spectacular and Dashing Willoughby (2020), Dee Ex Bee (2019) and Big Orange (2017) have all run faster times in the last decade, although the 2020 race was run in July due to the Covid pandemic delays. Burdett Road was perhaps expected to be the pacemaker, but when he failed to kick on from the stalls, William Buick decided to keep things simple and make every yard. In a small field, against inferior rivals, that was clearly the right move and although his top speed of 38.1 mph was ranked 2nd of the 4, when it mattered, he had far too much for his 3 rivals. Finishing the last 3-furlongs in a time of 38.39s, he was 0.45s quicker than the runner-up (Coltrane) and was able to assert his dominance with relative ease. At an average of 23.20 ft, his stride was considerably longer than the next best Coltrane (22.34 ft) and that allowed him to stretch at the 2-furlong pole to pull clear. Did we learn anything here that might point towards his chances in the Ascot Gold Cup in 3-weeks time? Probably not. He beat 3 horses that the handicapper would say are 6 lbs or more inferior to him at level weights and the 5-length winning margin, which could possibly have been bigger if he had been asked for everything, is what’s to be expected from a group 1 performer in group 3 company. Kyprios is now retired and as a result, there is an opening at the top of this division. Right now, Trawlerman has some of the best form on offer, but he is a 7-year-old and we know all about him. There will be some younger legs in the Ascot Gold Cup and I’d certainly argue the case that both Candelari and Illinois achieved more in their trials than Trawlerman did on Thursday evening.
Star Sports Heron Stakes (Listed Race)
Did the hood help Opera Ballo? That’s a good question. He was very keen in the early stages and fought William Buick over the opening couple of furlongs but an injection of pace from Matauri Bay, Nebras and Suhail Star gave him cover and a chance to settle (ish). Each of those horses ran below 12-seconds for the 3rd furlong and given that they finished 6th, 7th and 8th, we can perhaps upgrade the finishing effort of Opera Ballo. When asked for his effort, he quickened smartly, running 12.23s for the penultimate furlong and once in front, he was nudged out to win by 2-lengths. Neither his top speed (38.07 mph) nor his run-out speed (32.23 mph) were the fastest in the field, but the winning time was 1.02s faster than the handicap run over the same course and distance 35-minutes later and he was a clear best in this line up. Can he take another step up in grade? Yes, but he needs to settle. This was run with a finishing speed of 101% and he has finished strongly when we consider how hard he pulled in the early stages, but against better horses who are stronger stayers, he may well come unstuck.
I’d also like to add a short note about Jackknife. On just his 2nd career start, he has run a fine race to finish 3rd at Listed level. Slowest into stride after taking 6.2s to reach 30 mph, he raced towards the rear of the field on the inside rail. Forced to switch when the pair in front of him began to tire, he wasn’t able to get on terms with the winner, but under a hands drive from Oisin Murphy, he finished strongly down the outside of the field. The run-out speed of 33.38 mph that he recorded was the fastest in the field and given that his average stride length of 25.10 ft was 1.61 ft longer than Opera Ballo’s, there is every reason to think that he will improve again when stepping up to 10-furlongs. He’s still raw and learning his craft, but this was a superb effort under the circumstances and he is a horse to keep on side for later in the season.