- All times BST.
We have a decidedly lowkey weekend of racing, with last week’s staying Group 1s making way for Ayr’s big field sprint handicaps.
Friday’s Bronze Cup was won by a low stall but the runner up was drawn in 24 so there doesn’t seem a lot in it with the Silver (14:30) and Gold Cup (15:40) contests to come.
These contests seem to once again revolve around the Richard Spencer yard, who does so well in these handicap sprints. Indeed, he won both the Silver and Gold Cup last year with Candy and Run Boy Run. Both of those horses run again this year in the latter race, although the choice of the stable – and now Classic-winning – jockey Saffie Osborne is Twilight Calls.
Osborne is aboard Rapper’s Delight for Spencer in the Silver Cup as the duo attempt to land a famous double-double.
Ayr also host a couple of nice Pattern races on the undercard, with the Firth Of Clyde Stakes (15:05) looking like it may go the way of Silent Beauty, who has looked like a very good horse on the prevailing soft ground.
We have mudlarks in action in the Doonside Cup (13:55), too, with Ice Max and Ecureuil Secret both loving to get their toe in. The latter hasn’t run for 420 days but has a superb record fresh and looks to have been kept back for this race specifically.
Over at Newbury, the unbeaten Arapaho Gold looks to make it five wins in a row in the Mill Reef Stakes (14:12) having won the Group 2 Gimcrack at York last time out. This gelding has already amassed a big following due to his indomitable attitude and will to win and he has every chance of scoring here before shooting for the big bucks in the Breeders’ Cup.
Race Of The Weekend
The Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes (13:02) also takes place at Newbury and sees former Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust attempt to regain the winning thread. He has run well in Group 1 races the last twice and this looks a lot easier. The improving filly Miss Yechance’s last race has worked out very well and she may run well at big odds.
Horse To Watch
Star Performer is unbeaten in two starts to date and has a fine chance of taking another step up the ladder in the Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies & Mares Stakes (15:50) at Gowran Park on Saturday afternoon. This daughter of Sea The Stars will need to cope with the slower ground but represents the Joseph O’Brien yard and could be anything still.
