Highland to reel them in at Longchamp

Highland to reel them in at Longchamp

HIGHLAND REEL, who has made us wait for our money by leaving the 2,000 Guineas to his deeply impressive stablemate Gleneagles, can do the business in the French equivalent, the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, at Longchamp on Sunday. The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt is still one of five possible runners for Ballydoyle.

While Newmarket would have suited his stamina profile better than Longchamp the son of Galileo is still expected to have enough about him to land the spoils here.

Andre Fabre could still saddle both New Bay and Make Believe, who was last seen when narrowly beaten on his seasonal debut to Ride Like The Wind in the Prix Djebel.

There is a safety limit of 20 for the race with 29 still in at today’s (Tuesday) first forfeit stage.

                                                        Highland Reel winning at Goodwood as a 2-y-o

St Leger preview: Windshear to blast Hill

Kingston Hill is race favourite to step up on solid 2,000 Guineas and Derby performances, but will have to overcome the true stamina types at the head of our table

 Windshear to blast Hill

THE DOSAGE system comes into its own when analysing Group races that require a test of stamina. It is particularly useful when there is scant form at the distance to go on and in situations where those taking part are still largely unexposed. Indeed, there are few races in which the Dosage gives us more of an edge than the Ladbrokes St Leger.

Quality thoroughbreds that have been successful at shorter trips, including Derby and Oaks winners, have been found wanting in this, including the likes of classy Camelot when falling short of the elusive Triple Crown in 2012.

Winning criteria

The average Dosage index (DI) for the past 20 winners of the race is 1.07 (a little lower than the average for the Derby) with the ‘right types’ having a DI below 1 (the lower the DI the more stamina potential). Of these past winners, the overwhelming majority satisfy the requirement of a DI of about 1 or lower – they comprise: Leading Light (DI 0.96), Encke (1.05), Masked Marvel (0.68), Mastery (1.00), Conduit (0.76), Sixties Icon (1.00), Scorpion (1.00), Brian Boru (1.05), Bollin Eric (1.00), Milan (0.77), Millenary (0.83), Mutafaweq (1.07), Nedawi (0.92), Silver Patriarch (1.00), Classic Cliché (0.83) and Moonax (0.73).

The table shows the 15 remaining in this season’s final classic, with just four trainers accounting for two-thirds of the field. As usual, it is arranged with those showing the most stamina potential at the top and the least at the bottom, ranked in order of DI.

2014 St Leger contenders

Colt                             Sire/dam sire                           Profile                           DI            CD

Windshear                            Hurricane Run/Hernando                  3-0-15-8-4 = 30                    0.54        -0.33

Scotland                                Monsun/Batchelor Duke                    2-0-10-8-0 = 20                    0.54        -0.20

Alex My Boy                           Dalakhani/Sadler’s Wells                  3-0-13-6-4 = 26                    0.58        -0.31 

Romsdal                               Halling/Singspiel                                 3-1-9-6-1 = 20                      0.74        -0.05

Forever Now                         Galileo/Darshaan                                4-0-11-5-2 = 22                    0.76        -0.05 

Hartnell                                  Authorized/Anabaa                              3-2-14-7-0 = 26                    0.86        0.04 

Kings Fete                            Kings Best/Singspiel                          5-1-14-7-1 = 28                    0.87        0.07

Kingston Hill                         Mastercraftsman/Rainbow Quest    3-1-11-5-0 = 20                    0.90        0.10

Kingfisher                             Galileo/Halling                                     5-0-13-6-0 = 24                    0.92        0.17

Granddukeoftuscany          Galileo/Danehill                                   4-2-19-5-0 = 30                    1.07        0.17 

Min Alemarat                        Galileo/Danehill                                   4-2-13-5-0 = 24                    1.09        0.21

Odeon                                    Galileo/Mark Of Esteem                     7-1-9-4-3 = 24                      1.09        0.21

Snow Sky                              Nayef/Dansili                                        5-1-8-4-0 = 18                      1.25        0.39

Somewhat                            Dynaformer/Royal Academy              8-6-21-2-1 = 38                    1.81        0.47

Marzocco                               Kitten’s Joy/Dynaformer                     5-6-15-2-0 = 28                    1.95        0.50 

Key to Profile: Left to right columns, ranging from speed to stamina: Brilliant, Intermediate, Classic, Solid, Professional. DI = Dosage index; CD = Centre of distribution.

The Centre of Distribution (CD) scale complements the DI. The CD covers the range from +2 to -2, where +2 corresponds to the Brilliant aptitudinal group in the Dosage profile (DP), +1 corresponds to Intermediate, 0 corresponds to Classic, -1 corresponds to Solid, and -2 corresponds to Professional. A low (close to zero) or negative CD indicates enhanced stamina potential.

Classic form

Last season’s Racing Post Trophy winner, Kingston Hill, by Mastercraftsman out of a Rainbow Quest mare, was tipped in this column to be staying on behind Australia in the Derby. The Roger Varian-trained colt, who ran well in the 2,000 Guineas over an inadequate trip, justified that confidence when runner-up to Australia at Epsom. He is proven at middle distances and on a DI of 0.9, similar to that of last year’s winner Leading Light (on 0.96), he may well have enough stamina allied to his class to step up here. He was a late withdrawal at York last month on account of the fast ground and shapes very well with some cut, which would enhance his chances. If he comes through Saturday’s final Classic with flying colours Varian intends to aim him at next month’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. However, while he is a logical favourite at Doncaster he is far from a certainty and at the available odds we ought to be looking for better value.

Khalid Abdullah’s Gordon Stakes winner Snow Sky ran out a convincing runner-up to Postponed (not entered for the St Leger) in the Great Voltigeur at York, the pair going clear of Odeon, some eight lengths adrift in third. The Nayef colt has won at a mile-and-a-half at Goodwood, when beating Windshear by a neck and the four points in his stamina profile give him chances of stepping up, but those nearer the head of our table have even better chances at the trip. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who sent out Conduit to win this in 2008, could also saddle Khalid Abdullah’s Kings Fete, by Kings Best out of a Singspiel mare, and well positioned in our table to make an impact.

Gosden’s options

Lady Bamford’s Eagle Top was taken out of the race when featuring prominently in the market, but she will be represented by the March Stakes winner Forever Now, also trained by John Gosden. Forever Now had enough about him at Goodwood to hold off the persistent challenge of Mark Johnston’s Alex My Boy and Sir Michael Stoute’s Kings Fete in a closely contested event and has ample stamina, being by Galileo out of a Darshaan mare. Gosden could also saddle Romsdal and Marzocco. The Derby third Romsdal, by Halling out of a Singspiel mare, is, like Forever Now, well positioned in the upper part of our table for a prominent showing in this. The Kitten’s Joy colt Marzocco, a maiden winner at Kempton, features at the other end of our table and is of less interest to us at this trip of the Gosden trio.

Ballydoyle

The highest rated of the two that Aidan O’Brien could still send out from his Ballydoyle yard, from his previous squad of five, is the Dee Stakes winner Kingfisher, who finished runner-up to his Australia in the Irish Derby. The son of Galileo’s subsequent last place in the Juddmonte International is best overlooked as he was pacemaking for his stablemate. Nonetheless, while Kingfisher certainly looks entitled to line up in this he looks something short of what is required to actually win it. Granddukeoftuscany made all to win his Tipperary maiden by some 19 lengths. He was subsequently only fifth in the Great Voltigeur, on very different going, when taking a smack in the face when tracking the leader. The Galileo colt could nevertheless develop into a decent stayer.

Strong prospect

However, a stronger prospect for this is the Richard Hannon-trained Windshear, not out of the first two in seven starts, who went down by a diminishing neck to Snow Sky on his latest start at Goodwood. The Hurricane Run colt is bred for stamina, being out of the Hernando mare Portal. He can improve again and, at the head of our table for stamina aptitude with 12 stamina points and a negative centre of distribution, is a danger to all over this trip.

The Mark Johnston-trained Hartnell is fully exposed as a winner of five of his 12 starts and has close form with several in this, but was disappointing when a well beaten sixth behind Postponed and Snow Sky at York last time out. The Queen’s Vase winner should nonetheless be respected at this distance. Johnston could also saddle Alex My Boy and Somewhat. Of this pair Alex My Boy is interesting being by Dalakhani and featuring near the top of our table.

Of the remainder, the Andrew Balding-trained Monsun colt Scotland is a conditions race winner at Epsom last season, but has failed to score when tried at Group level this season. He will not fail through want of stamina, but would need to improve to reverse form with one or two lining up here.

Speed/stamina balance

The average DI for the past 20 winners is slightly above 1, with the ideal type for the race below 1. A low or negative CD is also an advantage, especially when the race lacks a top-notch middle distance type that is capable of stepping up.

Dosage of previous St Leger winners

Year       Horse                                                 DI                            CD

2013       Leading Light                                       0.96                        0.10

2012       Encke                                                 1.05                        0.20

2011       Masked Marvel                                     0.68                        -0.13

2010       Arctic Cosmos                                     1.77                         0.50

2009       Mastery                                               1.00                         0.00

2008       Conduit                                                0.76                        -0.09

2007       Lucarno                                               1.34                         0.26

2006       Sixties Icon                                          1.00                         0.23

2005       Scorpion                                              1.00                         0.19

2004       Rule Of Law                                          2.11                        0.17

2003       Brian Boru                                            1.05                         0.18

2002       Bollin Eric                                             1.00                         0.14

2001       Milan                                                    0.77                        -0.05

2000       Millenary                                               0.83                         0.02

1999       Mutafaweq                                            1.07                          0.14

1998       Nedawi                                                  0.92                         0.09

1997       Silver Patriarch                                      1.00                          0.03

1996       Shantou                                                1.67                          0.38

1995       Classic Cliché                                        0.83                         0.00

1994       Moonax                                                 0.73                        -0.04

                                                                          ____

Average Dosage index      =                              1.07

Shortlist

With regard to stamina suitability those on a DI of below 1 and a low or negative CD comprise: Windshear (DI 0.54), Scotland (0.54), Alex My Boy (0.58), Romsdal (0.74), Forever Now (0.76), Hartnell (0.86), Kings Fete (0.87), Kingston Hill (0.90) and Kingfisher (0.92). We might also be tempted to add Snow Sky to our shortlist, whose combination of class and stamina potential could bring him into the reckoning.

The class middle distance horse with the ability to step up is no doubt best represented this year by Kingston Hill and possibly Snow Sky, but if the race develops into a real test of stamina those closer to the top of our table, such as Windshear, Alex My Boy, Romsdal and Forever Now will be favoured. At available odds Windshear and Forever Now look the value, although Kingston Hill, while far from unbeatable, may prove a tough nut to crack.

Verdict:

1)    Windshear
2)    Kingston Hill
3)    Forever Now/Romsdal

More on the Dosage system from the author and from Dr Steven Roman can be found at www.chef-de-race.com and in the book Dosage: Pedigree and Performance, published by The Russell Meerdink Company, Ltd.

Ascot Gold Cup

While not absolutely guaranteed to step up from 16 to 20 furlongs in the Gold Cup it looks worth taking the chance that Leading Light will. Assuming he does the favourite stands out in terms of class. Brown Panther, Estimate and Ernest Hemingway are among those who could outstay him

Leading Light’s class to shine, stamina we take on trust

WHILE FEW thoroughbreds genuinely stay 20 furlongs, the horse able to sustain the greatest overall pace at the distance will win. It is rare for a horse to be able to give optimum performance when asked to endure extreme distance at the sort of pace required for a Group 1. Something invariably has to give. Consequently it is common for horses that do manage to get the balance about right to win the race more than once. Yeats, Royal Rebel, Kayf Tara, Drum Taps, Sadeem, Gildoran, Ardross, Le Moss and Sagaro have all won this race at least twice since the mid-1970s. Estimate aims to add to that number this year.

The table includes the 19 (15 now go to post) still in. As usual it is organised with those showing the greatest stamina potential at the top and the least at the bottom, ranked in order of Dosage index (DI).

2014 Ascot Gold Cup contenders

Horse                                     sire/dam sire                                       Profile                    DI            CD

Estimate                             Monsun/Darshaan                               0-0-11-9-6 = 26    0.27        -0.81

Oriental Fox                        Lomitas/Big Shuffle                           1-1-10-2-6 = 20    0.54        -0.55

Ernest Hemingway              Galileo/Darshaan                                3-0-11-6-2 = 22    0.63        -0.18 

Brown Panther                     Shirocco/Unfuwain                             3-0-10-5-2 = 20    0.67        -0.15

Eye Of The Storm                Galileo/Shirley Heights                      4-1-15-6-4 = 30    0.71        -0.17 

Pale Mimosa                        Singspiel/Danehill                             4-2-20-7-3 = 36    0.80        -0.08

Missunited                            Golan/Don’t Forget Me                       1-1-5-2-1 = 10      0.82        -0.10

Saddler’s Rock                      Sadler’s Wells/Groom Dancer             7-1-22-8-4 = 42    0.83        -0.02

Ahzeemah                            Dubawi/Entrepreneur                         2-0-7-2-1 = 12      0.85        0.00

Altano                                   Galileo/Lando                                   3-0-7-4-0 = 14      0.87        0.14

Shwaiman                             Authorized/Machiavellian                  6-0-14-7-1 = 28    0.87        0.11

Leading Light                       Montjeu/Gone West                            6-6-25-13-0 = 50 0.96        0.10

El Salvador                           Galileo/Kris                                        6-0-10-5-1 = 22    1.00        0.23

Royal Diamond                     King’s Best/Danehill                           6-3-17-6-0 = 32    1.21        0.28

Havana Beat                         Teofilo/Desert Prince                          1-2-5-2-0 = 10      1.22        0.20

Simenon                               Marju/Alzao                                        4-1-8-3-0 = 16      1.29        0.38

Whiplash Willie                     Phoenix Reach/Nashwan                    3-0-8-0-1 = 12      1.40        0.33

Ralston Road                        Dylan Thomas/Galileo                        4-2-12-2-0 = 20    1.50        0.40

Tac De Boistron                    Take Risks/Sicyos                                 4-1-7-2-0 = 14      1.55        0.50

(Readings for those with an overall point’s total of 10, 12 or 14 are likely to be less accurate than those with higher point’s totals. A lower points total should not imply inferiority – the readings refer to stamina aptitude not ability.) 
Key to Profile: Left to right columns, ranging from speed to stamina: Brilliant, Intermediate, Classic, Solid, Professional. DI = Dosage index; CD = Centre of distribution.
The Centre of Distribution (CD) scale complements the DI. The CD covers the range from +2 to -2, where +2 corresponds to the Brilliant aptitudinal group in the Dosage profile (DP), +1 corresponds to Intermediate, 0 corresponds to Classic, -1 corresponds to Solid, and -2 corresponds to Professional. A low (close to zero) or negative CD indicates enhanced stamina potential.

Renewed rivalry

Last year’s first and second, Estimate and Simenon, look set to renew rivalry. Her Majesty the Queen’s Monsun mare appears at the head of our table for stamina aptitude and duly obliged as the selection for this in last year’s column, stepping up in trip and running to a personal best (RPR of 113). The Gold Cup winner is out of the Darshaan mare Ebaziya and consequently a half-sister to the entire Enzeli, who won this in 1999. Despite winning in resolute fashion last year Estimate is not certain to confirm form with runner-up Simenon, and newcomers to the race look like making it a stronger event than last year. She has not been seen out this season, reportedly suffering from a muscle problem with her right hind, and has a lot on her plate to follow up in this on her seasonal debut. 

Pale Mimosa missed this race last year, but is another five-year-old mare that will not only stay the distance but should improve for stepping up in trip. Dermot Weld’s charge, by Singspiel, is a relatively unexposed winner of three of her eight appearances. She ran better than might be suggested by her finishing position of fourth in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot last season.

The Willie Mullins-trained Simenon was a dual Royal Ascot winner in 2012 and ran a terrific race to be runner-up to Estimate in this last year. The seven-year-old gelding appears to come into his own at trips above two miles and cannot be completely ruled out.

Leading Light

The St Leger winner Leading Light has also won the Queen’s Vase at Ascot over two miles. While finding a step back to a mile-and-a-half in the Arc a stiff task he has made a strong reappearance this season in beating both Royal Diamond and Pale Mimosa in the Vintage Crop Stakes. There is a lot to like about this colt and if he can step up from two-mile winning form will take the beating here. He has a DI of below 1, which will help, and while there are those who will relish this stamina test even more, the Montjeu colt nonetheless represents the class of this year’s race and the 13 points in the stamina wing of his profile will stand him in good stead. He is clear on ratings with a best RPR of 121, achieved this season. A race winning performance in this usually comes out at RPR 120+, but has been below that level in the past two renewals (113 and 118). Simply put, if he stays he wins and he has good chances of staying well enough, with his Dosage figures well in line with other winners of this race. If he is beaten it will take a good one with superior stamina, higher up the table.

Last season’s Long Distance Cup winner over two miles at Ascot, Royal Diamond, is a tough competitor capable of running to consistent RPRs of around 115, but he shouldn’t be good enough to trouble the favourite.

Stamina strengths

Ernest Hemingway has not been asked to run at the right distance for most of his career to date and will come into his own at this trip. He has close form with Royal Diamond at Leopardstown and the Curragh at middle distances and beyond, but this test of stamina should play to the strengths of a son of Galileo out of a Darshaan mare. He appears near the head of our table for stamina aptitude and is an interesting contender. The same can be said for his stablemate Eye Of The Storm (who has no left eye), by Galileo out of a Shirley Heights mare. The colt was placed behind Royal Diamond in Ascot’s Long Distance Cup and his stamina is not in doubt. 

Andreas Wohler’s eight-year-old gelding Altano was fifth in this last year but improved for that to take the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp from Tac De Boistron on soft going. The Marco Botti-trained Tac De Boistron readily exacted revenge in subsequently taking the Prix Royal-Oak in convincing style over two miles in testing conditions. The Take Risks gelding went on to be a convincing winner of Ascot’s Sagaro Stakes this season and later split Gospel Choir and Tiger Cliff in a tight finish in the Yorkshire Cup on good going, conceding a Group 1 penalty. This was a fine effort and any give in the ground would see his chances increase, something which also applies to Altano.

The Henry II Stakes winner Brown Panther is well placed in our table to show up here. By Shirocco out of an Unfuwain mare he could be the cat among the pigeons when push comes to shove in terms of stamina. The Mark Johnston-trained Oriental Fox probably ran his best race in taking the Cesarewitch Trial handicap over 18 furlongs (the furthest he has been) at Newmarket off top weight. Although, on the face of it, he is short of the required class to take on the main players here, his pedigree is laden with stamina and he could improve again for a step up in trip.

Negative centre of distribution

If a DI of 1.0 and a CD of zero is the blueprint for a Derby contender, for a potential Gold Cup winner we are looking for a DI of less than 1 and ideally a negative CD (recent winners are ideal examples of what we should be looking for): Estimate (DI 0.27, CD -0.81), Colour Vision (0.64, -0.13), Fame And Glory (0.65, -0.25), Papineau (0.88, -0.04), Enzeli (0.54, -0.45), Celeric (0.00, -1.44), Double Trigger (0.21, -1.40) and Arcadian Heights (0.90, -0.05) – while Yeats (0.89, +0.08), Kayf Tara (0.90, +0.08) and Classic Cliché (0.84, 0.00) qualify in terms of DI and are very close to qualifying in respect of CD.

Dosage of previous 10 Gold Cup winners

Year                       horse                                     DI         CD

2013                       Estimate                             0.27        -0.81

2012                       Colour Vision                       0.64        -0.13

2011                       Fame And Glory                   0.65        -0.25

2010                       Rite Of Passage                  1.16        0.13

2009                       Yeats                                  0.89        0.08

2008                       Yeats                                  0.89        0.08

2007                       Yeats                                  0.89        0.08

2006                       Yeats                                  0.89        0.08

2005                       Westerner                            1.53        0.25

2004                       Papineau                              0.88        -0.04

Average                                                            0.87                                                       

Shortlist

There are eight in this year’s race with a negative CD and a DI of below 1 and to these we might add Altano (particularly if yielding) and Leading Light who both have DIs below 1 and only slightly positive CDs. Of these Leading Light stands out in terms of class (as did the likes of Fame And Glory, Yeats and Westerner before him). Brown Panther, Estimate, Ernest Hemingway and Altano may give him the most to do on the stamina front.

Verdict

1)     Leading Light

2)     Brown Panther

3)     Estimate

4)     Altano