What a superb weekend of racing we have in store – on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Ireland stages its first classics of 2016 with the 2000 Guineas seeing the reappearance of Galileo Gold, our 14/1 tip for the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. The favourite that day, Air Force Blue, attempts to redeem his reputation and is one of four Aidan O’Brien runners.
There is also top-class racing at Goodwood, York and Haydock in England with the Group 2 Temple Stakes being the feature at the Lancashire track.
Temple Stakes History and Trends
The Temple Stakes was first run in 1965. Originally held at Sandown Park, it was transferred to its present venue in 2008 and remains a valuable trial for next month’s King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Geoff Wragg’s filly Cassandra Go was the last horse to complete the double in 2001.
Three-year-olds have a decent record in this sprint considering few have been forward enough to take on their elders. Only one, Kachy, takes his chance this year and he looks to have a bit to find on official ratings – he is a general 16/1, despite having won all three starts over 5f.
Only one winner since the turn of the century has been trained outside of the UK. That was Sole Power in 2011 and Eddie Lynam’s sprinter is back for more. But he’s now nine and recent efforts have suggested he’s on a downward curve – he is a best 14/1 this time with bet365, though older sprinters don’t fare badly in the Group 2 overall.
Nearly all winners had won previously over 5f but only Aeolus (25/1 with bet365) falls outside that category this year.
Very few winners hadn’t had a run the same year so that’s a worry for supporters of Pearl Secret (a best 20/1) and the general 9/4 favourite Mecca’s Angel. More rain would have suited Michael Dods’ mare, who beat a number of this weekend’s rivals when landing the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York last August.
Several of these ran in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket last month in which Profitable (9/1 with Coral) came out on top. But WAADY (8/1 with the same firm) started favourite that day and wasn’t beaten far, having become a little unbalanced entering the dip on the Rowley Mile. Faster conditions are forecast at Haydock and that will suit John Gosden’s colt, who can recoup losses.
Muthmir (still available at 13/2) runs in the same colours and demands the utmost respect on last year’s form which included victories in a Group 2 at Chantilly and the King George Stakes at Goodwood. But he was behind Mecca’s Angel at York and Goldream (a general 14/1) in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp subsequently.
Temple Stakes Current Best Odds
Mecca’s Angel (9/4), Muthmir (13/2), Waady (8/1), Profitable (9/1), Goldream and Sole Power (14/1), Kachy (16/1), Take Cover (18/1), Pearl Secret, Move In Time and Sir Maximilian (20/1), Cotai Glory and Steps (25/1), Aeolus (28/1), Justineo (33/1), Iffranesia (100/1)
