Tag Archive for: Eyecatcher

Sandown Eyecatcher Skellet will be making amends

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Ralph Beckett’s Skellet can surely be marked up after her third-place finish in the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown.

The Kingman filly was having just her second run of the season, having disappointed at Epsom when favourite for a Group Three at the Derby meeting.

She clipped heels and almost came down in the early stages before staying on powerfully behind two highly progressive fillies and will be winning soon herself, possibly over further than the mile she faced here.

York Eyecatcher Skukuza can make Group race mark

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Ed Dunlop’s Skukuza proved he is up to winning a Group race when a fast-finishing third in the Strensall Stakes at York.

Twice a winner in Ireland earlier this season when searching for softer ground, he had disappointed at Goodwood in conditions that were expected to suit.

He was very keen on the way to post under Ryan Moore and the jockey chose to give up a good draw to get him dropped in for some cover, which meant he was further back than ideal, but he flew home to be beaten a neck and a head, suggesting 10 furlongs will be well within his reach.

York Eyecatcher Spyce can add plenty of interest going forward

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Spyce looks set to be an interesting prospect for Alan King after a fast-finishing second over seven furlongs on debut in the British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes at York.

The 280,000 guineas breeze-up buy was in midfield as the Aidan O’Brien-trained Frescobaldi hit the front with two furlongs to go. However, the Too Darn Hot colt produced a smart turn of foot to power his way through the field inside the closing furlong.

Spyce momentarily threatened to snatch the victory before finding the line three-quarters behind the front-running favourite, who had the benefit of two prior outings.

York Eyecatcher Air Force One can take flight

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Air Force One is surely capable of bagging a big sprint before the season is out after his good run in the York opener.

He was all dressed up with nowhere to go two furlongs from home, allowing the eventual winner Trefor to get first run.

However, when eventually he did get in the clear he flew home into third. The handicapper cannot put him up too much and there should be plenty of options before the season is out.

Goodwood Eyecatcher Shaman one to remember

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Shaman Champion looks up to winning a similar event after coming up just short in the Hawes & Curtis Nursery Handicap at Goodwood.

Ridden with patience by Oisin Murphy, Richard Hughes’ youngster came with a winning run in the closing stages but could not get past a very game winner with plenty of experience to his name.

With his own extra experience now under his belt, it would be no surprise to see Shaman Champion in the winner’s enclosure as the season progresses.

Goodwood Eyecatcher Mdawi can go one better on Friday

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Charlie Johnston’s Mdawi was perhaps an unlucky loser at Goodwood on Wednesday, but it might not be long until he gains compensation.

Short of room when wanting to make his challenge in the opening mile-and-a-half handicap, he eventually got rolling but the bird had already flown and he had to settle for second, one and three-quarter lengths adrift of winner Omni Man.

A son of the top-class mare Peeping Fawn, he gets a second crack on the Sussex Downs over a furlong less on Friday and it would be no surprise to see him on the premises once again.

Galaxy gets Goodwood Eyecatcher honours

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Goodwood Galaxy ran a race full of promise to finish fourth as a 25-1 shot in the Coral Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

Trained by David Menuisier, Goodwood Galaxy was a relatively cheap purchase at 45,000 guineas as a yearling but hails from the family of last year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel and had made a winning debut at Salisbury late last month.

Swiftly hiked to Group Two company, Goodwood Galaxy was last approaching the final furlong but stayed on with real purpose to beaten just over two lengths by winner Zavateri, offering plenty of hope for the future at this seven-furlong trip and beyond.

Action-packed Curragh Eyecatcher one to follow

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Aidan O’Brien’s Action is bred to be top class and there is plenty to look forward to judged on a debut full of promise at the Curragh.

The apparent second string of three runners for Ballydoyle, the son of Frankel is a half-brother to dual Derby winner Lambourn, so the seven-furlong distance he faced in the opener on Irish Oaks day was always likely to be on the short side.

Having sat in the slipstream of his front-running stablemate New Zealand for much of the way, Action looked to be back-pedalling passing the two-furlong marker, but the penny dropped late on and he was fairly motoring at the line, in the end beaten just a nose and half a length into third place.

Thesecretadversary is one to keep on side for future runs

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It is surely only a matter of time before Thesecretadversary makes his mark on the racecourse after a brave effort in defeat in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Fozzy Stack’s youngster hit the crossbar at Leopardstown on debut and upped to Listed level for his second start, lost nothing in defeat after trying to match strides with impressive winner Humidity.

Dropping back in class for a maiden would seem a formality, but it would be no surprise to also see him continue to ply his trade with flying colours in deep company as the season progresses.

Ascot Eyecatcher Cajole will make persuasive case next time

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Cajole will have plenty to offer in the future after her second-placed run in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

John and Thady Gosden’s Dubawi filly, owned, bred and well-named by Cheveley Park Stud out of the mare Persuasive, put up a clear career best as a 25-1 shot, beaten just a length.

She was head of the group of horses she was racing among, and with a little more luck on her side may have been closer still.

Ascot Eyecatcher Rahiebb will make his mark

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Roger Varian’s Queen’s Vase third Rahiebb could be worth following with big days later in the season in mind.

The Carlburg Stables handler won this race with Eldar Eldarov in 2022 and looked to have another real contender in Rahiebb, who emerged from the pack full of running with two furlongs to run.

Inexperience perhaps cost the lightly-raced son of Frankel late on, but he is yet to finish outside the top three in five starts, with his trainer saying he will be handed a St Leger entry later in the season.

Ascot Eyecatcher Reaching High will get his day in the sun

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There remains a big prize to be won with Reaching High, the royal runner who suffered a luckless passage in the Ascot Stakes.

Sent to Willie Mullins upon the retirement of Sir Michael Stoute by the King and Queen, the big meeting had understandably been his aim.

Draw one, though, Ryan Moore was always looking for a way out having been trapped on the rails, meaning he finished full of running in ninth. He is entered back at Ascot Saturday, but the Northumberland Plate would look a likely target.

York Eyecatcher Rikki Tiki Tavi promises plenty

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Kevin Ryan’s Rikki Tiki Tavi suggested he had a bright future when picking up a silver medal on debut at York.

The son of Bungle Inthejungle was contesting the same maiden the Ryan team won with the smart The Strikin Viking 12 months ago and showed plenty of speed to be up with the pace throughout.

His inexperience perhaps cost him when it mattered in the closing stages, as Ralph Beckett’s Egoli kept on well to scoop first prize, but it was a performance that points towards a visit to the winner’s enclosure at some point during his two-year-old season.

York Eyecatcher See That Storm remains on the upgrade

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Ed Bethell’s See That Storm showed he is still improving when catching a tartar at York on Friday in the shape of Burrito.

Since joining Bethell from Andrew Balding, See That Storm won his first four races before being beaten a nose in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar.

Raised 4lb for that near-miss, he then had the misfortune of bumping into what is surely a Group horse in the making on the Knavesmire, but given he was beaten almost two lengths, the handicapper should not alter his mark much.