King’s can give vintage performance
The Tom Mullins trained filly was out of her depth in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh last time, but emerged from the classic with credit. She finished eighth of 15 behind runaway winner, Snow Fairy, and that was probably better than connections were entitled to expect.
Rated 80, a long way short of what was required, King’s Vintage was beaten a total of 30 lengths.
But when you take into account that she had 110-rated Remember When and 105-rated Crystal Gal behind then the performance is put into context.
The handicapper, in his wisdom, decided no increase in King’s Vintage’s rating was necessary.
Prior to the Oaks, the selection got off the mark when taking a Killarney handicap by four and a half lengths.
She beat Top Spin and the form got a major boost when that horse landed a valuable event at Killarney last week.
The Liam And Rita Lipsett Memorial Maiden is a well above average contest of its type for this track, with Battleoftrafalgar, Sailors Warn, Dart Queen and Welcome Addition all possibilities.
Preference is for Battleoftrafalgar, who looked an improved performer when running twice at the recent Galway Festival.
Firstly, he had Sailors Warn half a length behind in third when beaten a head by Raffaello Santi in a maiden.
Then two days later Battleoftrafalgar was run out of it to the tune of a length and three parts by Prince Chaparral in a handicap. Prince Chaparral subsequently scored at Tramore.
Hope Of An Angel stepped up on previous efforts when winning a Galway nursery, it has been working out reasonably well, and a repeat of that effort will see her taking the Steeplechasing Returns September 29th At Sligo Auction Race.
