In this regular Monday segment, racing expert Scott Armstrong rounds up all the action of note from this weekend’s racing for SBC Blog readers.
Saturday’s racing was dominated by the outstanding Frankel and Scott runs the rule over his magnificent win alongside that of another of his highlighted horses – Deacon Blues, who took the Champions Sprint Stakes. You can also pick up Scott’s latest Horses To Follow list and find out how to receive this via email every Monday in the future.
The world’s best racehorse lit up Champions Day as Frankel dismissed four Group 1 winners with ease in winning the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes by four lengths. In these current dark times for horse racing it’s great news for all fans of the sport that Frankel will be back next year as a four-year old. Frankel is 2-1 with William Hill to remain unbeaten next season.
Christophe Soumillon was the latest victim of the whip rules suffering a £52,000 fine for striking the winner of the Champion Stakes, Cirrus Des Aigle six times in the final furlong. This incident overshadowed a first Group 1 success for the five-year old Cirrus Des Aigles who wore down So You Think in the final furlong. Cirrus Des Aigle may now be aimed at the Hong Kong Cup in December where he should be on the premises.
The Long Distance Cup saw Fame And Glory return to top form as he put in a terrific performance to defeat Opinion Poll by one-and-quarter lengths. Aidan O’Briens star is now a best price of 11-4 for the 2012 Ascot Gold Cup and is a deserving favourite.
Deacon Blues had been earmarked on my horses to follow list as the one to back in the Champions Sprint Stakes and he proved a worthy one-and-half length winner from the well backed Whizz Kid. Although Deacon Blues has not yet run in a Group 1 race there can be no doubt he is up to winning at the highest level and the Golden Jubilee at the course he loves may be the aim next season.
Dancing Rain was crowned Champion Filly under an enterprising Johnny Murtagh ride, leading from start to finish at odds of 6-1.
A horse to add to the notebook from Saturday is Mark Johnston’s Kinloch Castle who was beaten a head in a Class 5 maiden at Catterick. This was the two-year-old’s racecourse debut and he ran slightly green when push came to shove. He should be winning soon.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
Aiken – Back next time out. Green last time out but ran well and sure to improve.
Balducci – Back in Listed race. Deserves another chance in Listed company.
Brockwell – Back next time out. Slow from stalls, ran on well, winner in waiting.
Bronterre – Back next time out. Lost race in preliminaries last time and ran green. Deserves another chance.
Fencing – Back next time out. Ran green on last outing, big future anticipated.
Kinloch Castle – Pleasing debut. Winner in waiting.
Nawwaar – Back next time out. Well regarded.
Rave – Back in Listed/Group 3 company. Best three-year-old in John Hills yard.
Rex Imperator – Back next time out. Missed break on latest start, ran on well.
Sirius Prospect – Back in Group company. Major prospect, capable of landing Group race.
Scott’s will be one of the key contributors to the forthcoming SBC Winter Racing Annual and providing his weekly Horses to Follow list exclusively to its purchasers from next week. Featuring 50+ Horses To Follow from proven experts, you can now register to save £10 off the cost of the Winter Annual when released here: https://smartbettingclub.com/WinterAnnual/