Cazoo Temple Stakes preview & tips: Who will win Haydock's big race on Saturday?
By Sporting Life
15:49 · SAT May 21, 2022
We have a tip, trainer quotes and key video replays for the Group 2 Cazoo Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.
Weekend Best Bets | Saturday at Curragh and Haydock
Cazoo Temple Stakes tip
Winter Power could be vulnerable away from York and preference is for Karl Burke's LAST CRUSADER at an each-way price.
The three-year-old looks firmly on the up following an impressive success on the Knavesmire himself and he looks sure to make a bold bid from near the front end.
On that most recent evidence Haydock should suit him well and he's taken to out-gun Winter Power in the run for the line.
Timeform's predicted pace map for the Temple Stakes
Pace Forecast : Strong
Draw Bias : N/A
Specific Pace Hint : It shouldn 't matter what shape this race takes as WINTER POWER (IRE) will probably be good enough to overcome any pace scenario.
Individual Price Hint : WINTER POWER (IRE) looks to have a good chance but has been beaten 3 times when trading at odds on in-running.
Key Quotes
Alastair Donald, Winter Power: “We’re looking forward to seeing her back and this was the obvious race to go for. She ran on soft ground in the Abbaye, but I think we can forgive that run and as a two-year-old she won three times on soft, so we’re not too worried about the ground. She’s a very quick filly and it’s almost about reining in the speed sometimes – a few times she’s ran with the choke out a little bit. But I think in the slower ground it might just be able to keep her in a good rhythm early on, rather than going too quick. Tim is very pleased with her and says she’s bigger and stronger now, so fingers crossed we can look forward to getting her back to her best.”
Ed Walker, Came From The Dark: “Came From The Dark loves Haydock. We were very disappointed with his comeback run but he’s capable of throwing in a dud every now and again, so hopefully he can bounce back. He’s in good form and this was always the target. My guys have done a brilliant job with him and they’ve got him back to soundness and in good form, so I think we’re on the straight and narrow. He’s fit, well and sound so hopefully we can get back on track.”
Came From The Dark wins at Sandown
Ed Bethell, Moss Gill: “I’m very happy with him and he’s been training good coming into the race. We’ve all got a tall order taking on Winter Power, but someone’s got to do it and we’re on better terms than we were when we finished second to her in a Listed race at York last year. Obviously she’s improved and we’re now a six-year-old, so I’m under no illusions it’s a tough task, but at the same time we’re the joint second highest-rated in the race and he deserves to be there. As far as I’m concerned he’s as consistent a sprinter as you can find and fingers crossed he’ll run a massive race.”
Karl Burke, Last Crusader, White Lavender and Attagirl: "Last Crusader appears the trainer’s main hope following an impressive display in the Westow Stakes at York last week, but his participation is ground dependent. We’re running him back a little bit quick after York, but there are not a lot of options over five furlongs for him in Group races, so as long as the ground doesn’t go on the slow side of good, and it does seem to be drying out there (Haydock), we’ll send him. If any rain came he could be a late scratch, but I think we’ll be going with him. I think he’s a high-class horse and a horse that has a great future and we’re not running for the sake of it, we’re running because there’s a lack of opportunities at five furlongs. He’s a lovely horse for the future and I’m sure he’ll be winning Group races later.”
Key video form
1. Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, York, August 20, 2021
