Gold Wand has no chance in the Oaks, out of a Mr Greeley mare, but Domino Darling is a different story, the money was down for Gold Wand on debut and it was just an introduction for Domino Darling, she wasnt even the stable first string. I think she could have improved plenty by now but we will see on Saturday. I have a saver on Love for the Oaks but Domino Darling is still my number 1.
Good luck with her. I was quite impressed with Frankly Darling for the same owner and if she turns up I will have a saver on her
The filly who beat Frankly Darling is 2nd favourite against Domino Darling on Saturday so we should get a decent line between them. I thought Frankly Darling looked a bit one paced and I dont think shes a serious contender for the Oaks but decent filly in the making. Domino Darling will need to outclass the field to be a legit threat to Love in the Oaks. No all out necks, needs to canter all over them and go clear or forget about it. The Oaks market is looking extremely thin, I would say 10/1 Domino Darling is still worth taking as anything resembling an impressive performance would establish a clear 2nd favourite.
ANYONEWHOHADAHEART 20/1 Lingfield 8:15 Up in trip for handicap debut and plenty of money around for it.
If you think they were good days Swanny, squabbling was much worse than on here. Maybe we should get Arkle back here
Today's race won by Gold Wand was a maiden where very few had any chance judging by the betting. One of the leading lights on that score was withdrawn. The time was more than 8 seconds slower than standard and a horse rated 78 won the Handicap that followed over the same trip in a time three seconds faster. I think we should be consistent when using factors to praise or crib form and as well as the time of the race, we need to consider that this was a Class 5 Maiden today. I would imagine that Love's stable lad/lass reported pretty much the normal output of dung after their filly watched that race this afternoon.
Looking at Sylistique's race today I felt like taking her on at well odds-on but could not make a case for anything else. I toyed with the Gosden filly but she had 26 lbs to make up on the ratings. As the race approached I wrestled with the notion that Stylistique could be a wheelbarrow job at 10/11 or that the Gosden filly could be a shoo-in each-way at 10/1. In the end I picked neither and although Stylistique prevailed it was by a nose from the filly rated almost two stones lower. The Varian filly sheds her maiden tag at the 7th attempt but there must have been a few moist gussets amongst her backers today. Fingers almost scorched there.
They went extremely slow early in the Gold Wand maiden, first 5f was 4 seconds slower than the preceding maiden, and 5 seconds slower than the proceeding handicap won by the soon to be rated 85+ Involved. The overall time was never going to be strong and it turned into a test of speed. Involved ran the last 4f in about 48 flat, the 2 maiden winners were around 2 seconds(about 10L) faster in the last 4f. Gold Wand was about 2L faster than Worthily in the last 4f, and the Gosden horse could be quite high class himself.
26lbs to make up yet had the winners penalty so had to give 7lbs weight concession to Varians filly and still nearly won. Off level weights it would have been a comfortable win for African Dream
Looking at Worthilys pedigree and given that he was able to win easily at 10f first time out, I wonder if he could develop into a Leger contender, hes a half brother to Lucarno and bunch of other high class stayers. Hes been put in at 25/1 and I might have some of that before he runs again. please log in to view this image
Yarmouth 8.00 Tokapi Star Best runs were on turf in class 5 handicaps last year. Must have an each way chance with mark sliding, stable in form and Hollie Doyle riding.
