Sahpresa can defy drift to claim third Sun Chariot
The now six-year-old had two of today’s rivals, Strawberrydaiquiri and Music Show, behind when winning the race last year, while the former was also behind the French filly in the 2009 renewal.
Sahpresa has held her form astonishingly well and, though she was beaten by one of today’s rivals, Timepiece, earlier in the year, there were mitigating circumstances.
Last time out she was a fast-finishing third behind Robert Collet’s Coronation Stakes winner Immortal Verse in the Jacques Le Marois, where she failed by a short head to pick up runner-up and multiple Group 1 winner Goldikova.
When second behind Timepiece in the Falmouth Stakes she was ridden with exaggerated waiting tactics in a slowly run race. Ridden more astutely this time, she should have no trouble reversing that form.
Clearly, she’s been targeted at this race for some time and, with the stiff finish suiting her style of running, her’s is a compelling case.
John Oxx’s Alanza is really progressive and, though her victory in the Group 3 Sceptre Stakes was a career-best effort, she should improve again for the return to a mile.
She’s three pounds worse off with Chachamaidee, whom she beat half a length at Doncaster, and can confirm the form over the longer trip. From a punting perspective, she’s been well backed all week and is now as short as she needs to be for a race in which she must step forward significantly.
Backing Together ensures a good run but very little return and today should be no different for supporters of the dual 1000 Guineas runner-up.
In truth, it’s not a great race for the level and as a proven Group 1 performer, I’m surprised she has drifted to 9-4. The quality of opposition is not there and as she remains at the top of her game, she should prove good enough to earn her hat-trick.
In the Cheveley Park Stakes, it's pretty hard to look beyond the unbeaten Best Terms. As with the Sun Chariot, it’s not the stronges t of contests for the grade but Richard Hannon's filly has looked a genuinely top class sort in the making.
She has progressed nicely with racing and it's easy to argue that she was at her most imperious when stepped up to six furlongs for the first time in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York last month.
On that occasion she led from the outset and really picked up in great style when challenged by Group 3 winner Fire Lily. The pair pulled a long way clear of the third and the runner-up did much for the form when running the unbeaten 1000 Guineas favourite Maybe to a length and three quarters in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.
It's also a positive that the Hannon team picked up the featured two-year-olds' race on Thursday with Crius, and his Best Terms is going to be very hard to beat today. She's beaten many of these at some stage and so one of her new rivals, Lightning Pearl, from the Ger Lyons stable, should provide the danger.
As long as they don't come down the middle of the track - something which could exacerbate her free-going tendencies - she should push Best Terms closest.
