Sacred is favourite in some lists for next seasons 1000 Guineas and a win today will see her as clear favourite, potentially by a fair way. I don't see her as a valid contender for the mile Classic at the moment, simply because her two runs thus far have been at 5F and such fillies tend not to go on to be Guineas types. She steps up to 6F today but even that distance at York had tended to favour sprinters in general and doesn't have the record of the winners going on to win the Classic the following season that you would be looking for. The more immediate question is whether she can win the Lowther that opens proceedings at York today?
The odds of reward are currently 15/8 and on the face of it she doesn't have the advantage in rating that would warrant her odds, with Santosha only 1 lb behind on official handicap figures. Looking at Sacred though, you would feel she is going to improve for the extra furlong today and I have felt for some years now that you need a filly with 5F speed to win a Lowther.
Sacred travelled like the winner at Royal Ascot but was mown down by Wesley Ward's Campanelle in the closing stages. Unusually for a Ward 5F horse it wasn't blazing speed that won the day. The winner there has been favourite in the build up to the Prix Morny but may not get the ground there that will suit with her stepping up to 6F for the Group 1. In the meantime, I feel Sacred is going to be tough to beat here and in my mind she was a 6F shot, so I will be with her at 15/8 and anticipate that her win will see her a probable poor value Fav for the Guineas in the aftermath.
The well backed but unconventionally named Umm Kulthum, piqued my interest, so I Googled the handle and found it was an Egyptian singer who passed away in 1975. She apparently was revered by Bob Dylan and Robert Plant amongst other rock legends. She sang contralto and it was said she never sang a line the same way twice, which is something that has also been said of myself, however, in my case that is because I couldn't hold a note in a bucket. Digressing, I can't quite stretch from a class 5 Thirsk maiden to a Group 2 at York in one jump, so I will wish the singer's namesake well but back Sacred.
To make up a double, it didn't take long to find the second leg because I think that Devious Company is going to be very tough to beat in the following race. His profile of 1122 might indicate an early season type who has not gone on but in this instance the two second place finishes were behind Battleground and Master Of The Seas in Group 2 races and those two colts head the betting for next year's 2000 Guineas. That form sets Devious Company out as a clear standout on form and he will be tough to beat in the race won by Mum's Tipple last year.
The leading question with Devious Company is that he drops to 6F after four runs at 7F but in his last two starts he was in a good position going into the final furlong and was only caught by the two classy colts who won the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket and the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. I think his class offsets the change in trip and again he was a 6/4 shot in my mind coming here, so again 15/8 looked appetising. Trainer Tom Dascombe isn't getting many winners at all this past fortnight but I scanned through the runners he has had and there were tons of no hopers based on their big odds, I will be surprised if he cannot win this Yearling race after two runner up places in Group 2 races.
I did see Uncle Jumbo with roughly the same amount of tips as Devious Company here and after only 1 start the Grey gelding could well have more to come after landing his only race to date. No winners have come from that race though and Devious Company's official handicap rating of 107 sets a very high bar for the Ryan horse to reach and on adjusted Racing Post Ratings the more exposed Devious Company has a 24 lb advantage coming in. I could not desert the horse whose only defeats came behind the colts who sit at the head of next year's 2000 Guineas betting but I also had a saver each-way single on Uncle Jumbo at 15/2 each-way five places because I think he'll be in the first five home under Ryan Moore. Also did a SF Devious Company/Uncle Jumbo.
1.45 York Sacred 15/8
2.15 York Devious Company 15/8
Win double
2,15 York Uncle Jumbo 15/2 each-way five places (William Hill or Paddy Power) Devious Company/Uncle Jumbo SF
Will see how those races go before any other potential bets.
