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Captain's Blog - 15th June 2011

Canford Cliffs won the tactical battle against Goldikova in the Queen Anne yesterday. He is not a a superior racehorse to her, but he was ridden to better tactical advantage. Future races between them promise to be fascinating. If Goldikova is to beat him it will be on a day when she is ridden woithout a big target on her back for Canford Cliffs to aim at. I also think she could have the edge at Deauville or Churchill Downs this year and I say this because Claude Charlet told me that connections believe she is a much better filly when she is trained on the track where she is due to race. A strange theory perhaps, but her Deauville and Breeders Cup record add some weight to the validity of this theory. Nonetheless Canford Cliffs is a superbly talented racehorse and a clash between him and Frankel in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood would be interesting although once again Canford may have the tactical advantage due to his ability to settle behind horses and then quicken up. Surely Frankel would merely tow him into the race just like Rip Van Winkle did?

The action at Ascot today is excellent as ever and for many there are two good things on the card. So You Think in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and Shumoos in the Queen Mary. They are both short prices and have outstanding chances. Sou You Think is a monster and could be one of the best horses we have seen so far this year. Shumoos ran a big speed figure when beating Fredrick Engels at Haydock and that horse franked the form by winning the Windsor Castle yesterday. My worry about Shumoos is that she ran so fast on her debut she may recoil from the effort. I suspect she will be OK as she won with something in hand and Brian Meehan trained two year olds tend to improve for their first run. She is the most likely winner but those that have taken a short price about her must be worried about the Wesley Ward trained Gypsy Robin. She was hugely impressive in winning her maiden at Keenland and the runner up in that race has since gone on to win easily at Woodbine. When she won she led at a good pace and then found plenty for pressure when challenged. She has a good chance of taking this lot out of their comfort zones early on in the race and we know she will find more when tackled, she rates as the value to turn over Shumoos who opens up the market for those looking to get involved each way.

I am in the studio today for all the action from Hamilton and will then cover the Kempton card this evening with Eddie Freemantle as my guest. As ever please get in touch at studio@racinguk.com and we will deal with your mails during the show.

All the best for day 2 of the Royal Meeting

Today's Selection

5.00 Ascot – Gypsy Robin ( each way 7/1 Sky Bet )