Another Late Bloomer?

[Wandering Eyes]

Seventeen years ago, Nayef (Gulch) used Haydock’s G3 Rose of Lancaster S. as a launchpad to an autumn campaign that yielded success in the G1 Champion S. and while fellow Shadwell representative Elwazir (GB) (Frankel {GB}) lacks the profile of that luminary he is arguably the most interesting of the protagonists for Saturday’s renewal. Having beaten the subsequent G3 Gordon S. winner Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) in a 10-furlong novice stakes at Sandown June 7, the flashy chestnut from Meon Valley Stud who cost 500,000gns at Tattersalls October followed up in convincing style in a handicap over that trip at Ascot July 14. Trainer Owen Burrows saddled a similar type in Laraaib (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) in this 12 months ago but had to settle for third and although he holds Elwazir in the highest regard he is wary of expectations this time. “I’m not sure he deserves to be favourite, but we are looking forward to running him and he has done nothing wrong this season. I’d like to think he is up to this class, but he has still got to go there and do the job. He wants a nice, galloping track and this looks a nice opportunity for him. There is a chance of a shower and if they do get one it would just take the sting out of the ground for him.”

Sir Michael Stoute is having one of his best seasons in a long time and along with Mark Johnston he is the joint leading trainer in this with three winners. Stoute’s delegate this time is Ahmad Alotaibi’s Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), who was a short-head second to Johnston’s hopeful Communique (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) in a Newmarket handicap over this mile-and-a-quarter trip July 13. Zaaki is 12-pounds better off with that rival this time, but Johnston is hoping Communique has found the required improvement in the interim. “He’s been a revelation this season. Obviously he needs to raise his game, as this will be his first run outside of handicap company and on ratings he’s got a little bit to find, but we hope that he can do,” he said. “The ground shouldn’t make any difference to him.”

Royal Ascot Heroine Bids To Bounce Back…

At Newmarket, the G3 german-thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera S. takes centre stage with the June 22 G3 Albany S. winner Main Edition (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) carrying a penalty as a result of that Royal Ascot success. Saif Ali’s bay was only seventh in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. over six furlongs here July 13, but she may have been made too much use of on that occasion. “She was in the process of running below-par before getting badly hampered last time out and she got a bit upset beforehand down at the start that day, so hopefully we have ironed that out since,” Mark Johnston’s son and assistant Charlie said. “If she bounces back to her Ascot form giving weight away shouldn’t be a problem and we feel she will be hard to beat.” Also in the line-up is the Albany runner-up and Duchess of Cambridge fifth La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {GB}) and the July 26 Listed Star S. runner-up Ajrar (GB) (Nayef), while John Gosden supplies Princess Haya of Jordan’s Pennywhistle (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) who scored over this course and distance July 20.

 

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