It’s my job, that’s what I do, try to give you big-priced ‘special’ winners like 7/1 chance Smad Place in Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup.
However, My ‘Time’ has come in division two of the Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over a mile of Kempton polytrack this afternoon and we are confident she can go the whole way, into the winners’ enclosure.
Fifty-two days ago Mytimehascome impressed on debut when fifth to Materialistic at Newmarket over seven furlongs; an 8/1 chance, in a 17-runner field, this Montjeu filly stayed on strongly and was beaten only two lengths.
That was undoubtedly a tough experience and trainer Roger Varian has wisely given her plenty of ‘recovery time’ which is so important for juveniles.
Our time-handicap figure represents what is usually required to be competitive in a ‘Newmarket maiden’ (templates over the years!) and experienced Varian had obviously seen enough on home gallops; realistically if Mytimehaswcome was up to competing at such a level this ought to be a cake-walk, but isn’t!
Unbelievably the standard for polytrack two-year-olds races is very high; so many ‘fashionable’ trainers haven’t switched off their high-octane engines after the 2015 turf-flat season which means substantial TH marks bear close inspection but, nowadays, don’t guarantee success.
Aficionados of this age group, like myself, are fascinated by the quality; think how many recent juvenile races are being won with Arab-owned ‘super-breds’ and you will realise what I’m saying.
That other division is much more difficult, have a look at the line-up (and trainers!) and you will understand why I’m more inclined toward Wolverhampton where, usually, the quality is lower; there are two nurseries, the seven furlongs race is within capabilities of Graham Lee-ridden Ormanumps, the other too difficult.
Six go to post for a six furlongs Claiming Stakes over ten furlongs and David Evans has found an opportunity for Oyster Pearl.
