Bay can dazzle Ripon rivals
Tim Easterby’s easy winner of the 2003 William Hill Trophy produced some
decent performances in the summer of 2004, but completely lost his way prior to joining the injury list after finishing last at York over 10 months ago.
Understandably sent off at 20-1 for his reappearance over the course and distance almost four weeks ago, Dazzling Bay was dropped in at the rear of the far side group until taking closer order two furlongs out and then picking off his rivals to hit the front with a well-timed run.
Never under anything like significant pressure from the saddle, he left the impression that he has emerged from the wilderness as good as ever – a view which is confirmed by his entry in Royal Ascot’s Wokingham.
To that end, he could easily be capable of defying an extra 6lb.
With victories at Goodwood and Newmarket already in the bag, Rochdale moves onto Windsor for the klng.com Handicap over five furlongs.
Michael Jarvis’ three-year-old had done nothing but improve in four outings over six furlongs, so it came as no surprise when he was sent off at skinny odds to win a minimum-trip handicap at headquarters last month.
Settled just off the pace by a confident Philip Robinson, Rochdale readily picked off the leaders inside the final furlong and was in command at the finish, thereby enhancing his already progressive profile.
The handicapper has imposed an extra 7lb in an attempt to bring the half-brother to smart Ratio under control but that seems unlikely to prevent him from registering another success.
It might pay to take a chance on unexposed Days Of My Life in the one-mile K&LNG Challenge Us Handicap.
Roger Charlton’s son of Daylami caught the eye when finishing a fine third over seven furlongs on his debut at Folkestone in March, and has done nothing but improve since – opening his account with a game half-length success on a return visit to Folkestone in April.
Sent to Goodwood last time to contest a decent seven-furlong handicap, Days Of My Life showed improved form, leading at the two furlong pole and running on in determined fashion to beat Dune Melody by three-parts of a length.
He has clearly made giant strides recently and his current rating may well see him land the hat-trick.
The K&LNG Handicap over just shy of 12 furlongs provides an ideal opportunity for Brabazon to go one better than he did over the same course and distance a little more than three weeks ago.
His defeat was unfortunate in the sense that he bumped into a real tartar in the form of Sir Michael Stoute’s extremely progressive Ogee, who defied an extra 6lb to win by five lengths a week later.
Finishing second can become a habit due to the handicapper’s rating adjustments, but Brabazon is clearly progressing nicely and his supporters might be about to reap some reward.
The British Car Auctions Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Lingfield can go the way of the Brian Meehan-trained Scented Present while Nick Gifford can get on the scoreboard at Fontwell courtesy of Native Performance in the Maureen Frost 40th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase.
