Godolphin can finish Royal meeting on a high with Campanologist
The apparent lack of pace in the race is a distinct worry for his colt Doctor Fremantle who has a similar profile to the heavily backed but vanquished Tartan Bearer. It’s arguable that the latter was beaten, and certainly inconvenienced, by the steady pace in Wednesday’s Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and it could be a similar story for his stable-companion this afternoon.
Doctor Fremantle is a proven stayer who would also excel in a stamina test and he boasts the best form in the race courtesy of a fourth placed finish behind New Approach in last year’s Epsom Derby.
If Stoute was willing to sacrifice the chance of stable-companion Tajaaweed to ensure a strong early pace, then that would certainly increase the favourite’s appeal.
However, that’s a most unlikely scenario and this is a race that could be won and lost in the dressing room. Frankie Dettori will be wise to the fact that there is no guaranteed pacemaker in the race and he will be keen to have Campanologist in front rank throughout.
As when steering the colt to victory in the King Edward VII Stakes at this meeting last year, he’s likely to set a steady pace early on before attempting to steal a march on his rivals. The plan worked to a tee on that occasion and there’s every reason to believe that a repeat could be on the cards.
After his Ascot victory, the colt ran a huge race when unable to dominate in the Group 1 Coral Eclipse over an inadequate ten furlongs and also performed creditably when second over the same trip in the Group 2 York Stakes on his final outing of 2008.
On his only run so far this season, he finished a close-up eighth in a bunch finish to the Brigadier Gerard Stakes. The four-year-old raced too freely in the early stages that day and that may be attributed to the fact that he was very fresh for his first run in more than ten months. Now that the cobwebs have been well and truly blown off, he should be primed to run a huge race.
Bronze Cannon has been creeping up the ratings and he produced a career best effort when beating Casual Conquest at Newmarket early last month. The actual worth of the form is difficult to assess as it was a tactical, three-runner affair. He also has six lengths to find with Campanologist on last season’s King Edward VII form and the fact that the John Gosden team is not firing on all cylinders is a definite worry.
Steele Tango finished in front of Campanologist last time out but he had the advantage of race fitness going into the Sandown contest and may struggle to confirm his superiority this afternoon. Dansant has been one of the stars of the all-weather and has improved steadily over the past year. Again, he would not be seen to best effect in a tactically run race and is passed over on this occasion.
Doncaster St Leger fifth Enroller looks the only threat to Campanologist’s early lead. With his proven stamina, he would prefer a searching gallop and it’s doubtful whether he will have the pace to mount a serious challenge over this trip.
If you’ll forgive an entirely predictable pun, the alarm bells were ringing for the seemingly out-of-form Godolphin runners until Flying Cloud justified strong support with a stunning success in the Ribblesdale on Thursday afternoon. That victory has given renewed confidence that the stable’s runners may be returning to top form and Campanologist makes plenty of appeal to finish the meeting on a high for Sheikh Mohammed’s team.
