July 20, 2011

Betfair Weekend: Rewilding and Workforce set for Ascot showdown

Ante-post RSS / Alex Steedman / 19 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Will there be more Ascot joy for Rewilding (right) on Saturday?

Will there be more Ascot joy for Rewilding (right) on Saturday?

"Workforce and Rewilding will tussle all the way up the famous Ascot straight... "

Alex Steedman assesses the field and weighs up the key protagonists in the build up to Saturday's big Betfair-sponsored race at Ascot...

It is a thankless task, improving upon near perfection, but that is what this weekend's Betfair King George contenders attempt as they chase the Ghost of Harbinger.

The betting suggests that St Nicholas Abbey [2.82] is the most likely budding superstar in this field and his reputation as well as a recent return to form suggests as much. Those who wonder at Aiden O'Brien's genius must have marvelled at the transformation of 'SNA' from apparent equine shell at the Curragh in April to the zestful colt who strutted at Chester then Epsom. Make no mistake he is back and, as Primal Scream sang, moving on up too.

Unbeaten as a juvenile in three races culminating in an eye-popping display at Doncaster in the Racing Post Trophy, SNA was considered to have disappointed despite finishing sixth in the 2000 Guineas last season. Injury robbed us of his presence thereafter until that subdued Curragh return. But he was swashbuckling in the Ormonde at Chester's May meeting and then delivered a performance of substance when despatching Midday despite not handling the contours of Epsom. The son of Montjeu has only been beaten twice and you just don't know where the end of his rainbow lies.

Midday is on standby for round two but she simply does not look quite good enough and that is plan B anyway with recent rains seeming to pave the way for connections' main dart Workforce [3.5]. You wonder how deep do burn the scars from last year as he raced wide, keen and eventually miles behind stablemate Harbinger. It could be that Ascot, with its relatively short, turning straight doesn't play to his strengths but that is conjecture and one duff run should not be held against Workforce. He was ridden to effect at Sandown but over a mile-and-a-half he remains a serious talent and if Ascot is not in any way a bogey for him, he is a major player and, it should be stressed, still improving.

Last year's Derby winner gave this year's talking horse So You Think a real scare in a knee-buckling renewal of the Eclipse last time. That brings us neatly to Rewilding [4.4] who narrowly overcame the Aussie sensation in a pulsating Prince of Wales' Stakes at Royal Ascot. Rewilding's performance somehow seemed to get lost in the furore over Frankie's whip ban as well as the debate and debrief over So You Think but for me he is an emerging star.

Last season we got a taste of what Rewilding might one day be with that placed effort behind Workforce at Epsom and though he didn't fire in the Leger, the Godolphin colt took off on home soil at the Carnival in March. Rewilding's Sheema classic success was the platform for that Royal Ascot coming out party and I think this is a horse to turn back the clock for Goldolphin. Remember in their first decade as an operation they set the racing agenda with International Group 1 regulars like Halling, Swain and Daylami. Both the latter named were winners of the King George and I think Rewilding resembles them in nature.

A feature of the Godolphin older middle distance horses of the past was their innate toughness and willingness to compete; Rewilding looked the part in those departments at Ascot and I really believe in this guy. In truth he may lack that sharp change of gear which shapes the real superstars but we don't know that for sure yet and he is getting better. Like Workforce, the step back up to a mile-and-a-half will see him at his best.

The emerging dark horse and an unexpected bonus if he does indeed turn up is Royal Ascot winner Nathaniel [9.2]. His success at the track back in June was one of the most memorable moments of the week where he established himself as a worthy Leger favourite on the back of it. If you see him sweating in the paddock beforehand don't worry, that is his way and a continued family trait. Nathaniel doesn't look quite good enough yet and three-year-olds haven't won this since 2003 but he is improving fast and he definitely looks to have Group 1 potential. My hunch is that connections are eyeing the Arc rather than the Leger so my advice would be to take a small position at big prices for Longchamp in the expectation of a decent run here.

And this year's renewal looks more than decent if not a rival to last year's spectacular. My feeling is that Workforce and Rewilding will tussle all the way up the famous Ascot straight and I'm hoping that Rewilding can prove himself the old school star I believe he is ready to become. The ghosts are watching.

Recommended Bet
Rewilding 1pt win (0-10) @ [4.1]

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