Basma is a potential 'special' and if ground conditions are favourable for the Maiden Fillies' Stakes over six furlongs at Newbury tonight this Barry Hills-trained Exceed And Excel filly will take on thirteen rivals under Paul Hanagan.
Backed into short-priced favouritism for a similar race at Haydock three weeks back Basma was never 'on the leg' for one stride due to a firm surface but managed second place behind Blue Bayou, rallying in the closing stages.
Hills was understandably disappointed, he's got his sights set high enough for Basma and, hopefully, forecast thunderstorms hit the Berkshire area because this will be preparation for a major juvenile event in France.
On the time-handicap Basma is no great shakes; both her races have been at the Lancashire course, where it really does get firm underfoot, far moreso than the majority realise, and I'm totally convinced this she will prove a vastly different proposition on this occasion.
Hamdan Al Maktoum has enjoyed a golden spell, he owns a plethora of above average two-year-olds and with his support Hanagan might just nip' a third jockeys' championship under the new format; his riding last month was outstandingly consistent.
Paul needs firm instructions, he'll carry them out to the letter and you bet Basma will be loosed from the outset in an attempt to make all and sort out the wheat from the chaff. What beats her will win.
Basma was also entered for the Maiden Stakes over a similar distance on Lingfield polytrack but 'politics' were obviously involved; son, Charles, has declared once-raced A Momentofmadness, an Elnadim colt which needs to improve considerably if Sir Mark Prescott-trained Time Warp hits his latest TH mark. Time Warp improved considerably from debut when runner-up, beaten a short-head by Gerrard's Quest on Chelmsford 'poly' a fortnight ago, and rates a serious betting proposition to go one better and make it third time lucky under Luke Morris.
It's all about two-year-olds from now on, this is the column for those interested in what is a fascinating age group and, whenever possible, my nap will be concentrated on them; you know my record.
SELECTIONS
2.10 Time Warp
7.05 Basma
7.40 Clever Bob (e.w)