oh,sad to hear.. wetherby,3 15: OLD GUARD had a rather difficult time last season,but made a pleasing seasonal debut last time out,behind a useful rival,and with that run behind him,should be very competitive here,as hes very classy on his day..
ascot,3 35: TRAFFIC FLUIDE made a pleasing comeback at chepstow recently,only beaten by a rejuvenated rival,so should go well today..
Shame about Shantou Rock, only 6YO and he had four wins and six seconds from his races. Mannall travelled well enough in behind them in the Montrose Stakes but when asked to pick up she never found much. Perhaps, despite winning on soft, the ground didn't suit her today, as she seemed to quicken her stride, only to little effect. I may give her one more chance on a sounder surface. The Johnston filly came forward again in second place and may progress next season. Earlier on Ralph Beckett's Feliciana De Vega thrashed her field by six lengths over the 7F trip. The runner up had an OR of 72, so it's not wildly exciting but for a first effort at 2YO it's a decent enough level to be starting out at. Plenty good horses have launched their careers from a mark of around 90, so it's encouraging. The big worry is that a lot of Beckett's youngsters seem to disappoint in terms of progression. I remember backing Secret Gesture for the Oaks ante-post at 33/1 after her debut win and was feeling in good terms about it after she won the Lingfield Oaks trial by ten lengths. Confident going into the Oaks she was beaten by stable companion Talent, who shocked her trainer almost as much as she shocked me. Talent was last in the Irish Oaks next time and never won another race.
Great stuff from Traffic Fluid, thought the horse was beaten at the last but battled back brilliantly, won me a few quid as well!
Another game winner in Traffic Fluide. Fat Paul will doubtless be getting in touch with the handicapper to apologise for slagging him off in his Betfair column over Art Mauresque's handicap mark.
Feliciana De Vega was a somewhat surprising runner at Deauville today. It's unusual to see 2YO UK horses running this close to Christmas. Tackling Listed class and Fibresand she was in behind them early on but started to close up ominously and when she hit the front she went on to come right away by four and a half lengths. The winning time was slightly faster than the Listed race for older horses was later on. I had felt that Feliciana De Vega had the most promise of the similarly named Lope De Vega fillies in the Beckett stable but I could not get any early odds for today's race and the contest went off at the ungodly hour of 10.20 AM on a Sunday. She was returned the 11/10 Fav and won with any amount in hand. Hard to say how strong the form is but surely she is rated over 100 now and in a year where the 1000 Guineas betting looks short on talent I decided to have a fiver on Feliciana De Vega at 33/1 for the fillies Classic. I like the way Feliciana De Vega travels and she still had some green tendencies today. She finished her race off strongly and looking back at her maiden win the 3rd and 4th have won since, despite being a distant 6 lengths plus behind the Ralph Beckett inmate at Newmarket. Feliciana De Vega has also won on soft ground, so that may be a bonus if the ground cuts up on Guineas day. No word of the plans from connections so far but it would seem sensible to be thinking about one of the trials at Newmarket or Newbury and then a poke at the Guineas if she is up to scratch. Current favourite Just Wonderful looks bad value at 10/1 so double carpet looks worth a play. 1000 Guineas Feliciana De Vega 33/1 looks a sporting punt.
