Camelot scraped home in the Irish Derby, Saturday, but I'll be very surprised if he's able to extend his unbeaten run in the St Leger during September. He was "rockin" and rollin' in the closing stages when pressure was applied by Joseph O'Brien, who has shown inexperience a time or two recently, as you'd expect. It was significant, 'they' didn't risk running stable-companion Imperial Monarch, a late withdrawal. The 'Ballydoyle mafia' knows, only too well, that Camelot has his limitations and the risk of defeat by that magnificent Galileo colt would have involved millions being written off the current, colossal, valuation. Camelot is by Montjeu, he's dead!
Therefore, Camelot must be kept as the replacement. It's business and John Magnier is a supreme, shrewd business-man whose partners, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith trust implicitly. Can you imagine how they viewed the 'Saturday-night scare' as Born To Sea, under a superb ride from Johnny Murtagh, challenged entering the closing stages?
Good that Born to Sea doesn't possess the ability of his full-brother, Sea The Stars, eh? Anyway, the Camelot 'politics' are shelved for now and focus falls on the 'soft' Ffos Las fixture tonight, when Ouzinkie is given another chance to go one better, in the Maiden Stakes over five furlongs of the Welsh circuit which has been highly praised, since opening a few years ago. Some liken it to Newbury!
Ouzinkie needs further but this will definitely be a demanding five and it's significant, Mick Channon has decided to claim Charles Bishop's 5lbs apprentice allowance. That sways and this consistent, limited but hitherto luckless Kodiac colt must be an each-way 'steal,' if all eight runners go to post and three places are on offer. Make sure that's the case, before committing but you can hit 'the nose' of Jamie Spencer-ridden Hoyam, for the Maiden Auction Stakes over five furlongs of 'good' Windsor ground, even though I'll probably play an each-way double. Rest of this meeting is much of a muchness, 'bookie-fodder' but recently, Hayley Turner 'warmed the saddle for Jamie on Exceedexpectations, one of fourteen declarations for the Maiden Stakes over six furlongs. This Michael Bell-trained colt was an eye-catching debut fifth, over seven at Folkestone three weeks ago and must not be missed.
SELECTIONS
RACE 14 (#4) ROYAL RASCAL
RACE 26 (#5) HOYAM
RACE 27 (#6) OUZINKIE (nap-e.w.)
RACE 30 (#7) EXCEEDEXPECTATIONS (e.w.)