15:55 Newcastle

Friday 14 April 2017

All13:5014:2014:5515:2515:5516:2516:55

32Red Burradon Conditions Stakes

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 1m 39.42s

(1)

Forest Ranger¹⁷⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 94

25/1

Comfortable winner of a 7F Redcar maiden on debut in September 2016 (moderate race), but far from disgraced when stepped up to Listed company at Pontefract in October when third in the 1m Silver Tankard Stakes to Godolphin's D'bai. However, this is far tougher and he will need to have thrived over the winter to play a serious role.

Form: 13-1

(8)

Leshlaa¹⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 90

11/2

A slow developing juvenile who finished ¾L second to Giovanni Battista on debut in a 7F Newmarket maiden before readily justifying odds of 4/11f to break his duck at the second attempt at Kempton in November (7F). Up in trip and sharply in grade, and clearly the second string to Syphax, but entered for plenty of big races and a promising sort in his own right.

Form: 21-81

(4)

Masham Star⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 101

33/1

Three time winner as a juvenile (Ayr, Doncaster and over C&D in November 2016). Has more experience than the remainder of this field and is well travelled since that course success having visited both Qatar and Dubai without further placings. Tough and versatile, but more exposed than a few of the other runners today.

Form: 0-06472

(2)

South Seas¹⁶⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 110

4/1

Holds English and Irish 2,000 Guineas, and Dante Stakes entries on the back of a rewarding juvenile campaign which saw him a winner on each of his first three starts culminating in a decisive 2¼L success in the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown (7F) in August. Found life tough upped in grade in the Dewhurst, but rounded off with a 5L second to Thunder Snow in the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud in October, and now tries this stiff 1m trip.

Form: 11162-5

(6)

Syphax²⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: K A Ryan| OR: 110

4/1

Holds English 2,000 Guineas and English and Irish Derby entries, as well as a Dante Stakes entry following an unbeaten juvenile campaign. Left his 7F Musselburgh maiden victory (July 2016) well behind when a head winner of the Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes during York's Ebor Festival in August. Has subsequently joined Godolphin but remains in this yard, and this is a valuable prize to win and kick start the new campaign.

Form: 11-2

(3)

Taamol²¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 95

4/1

Impressive winner of a 7F Newmarket July course novice contest on debut in June 2016, but raced rather keenly and weakened when a beaten 7/4f for the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes during the St Leger Festival at Doncaster in September 2016. Bred to stay this trip on AW debut.

Form: 15-4

(7)

Utmost¹⁸⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 91

10/3

Comfortable 1L debut winner of the 7F Reference Point Maiden Stakes at Leicester in October 2016, and holds an entry in the Dante Stakes at York next month. Dam was effective on this surface, and with stamina in his pedigree this step up in trip looks certain to suit, with his rider likely to gain much of the attention on a rare visit to Newcastle.

Form: 1-

(5)

Volatile⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: M Harley| T: J Tate| OR: 98

14/1

Took a moderate 7F Chelmsford Median Auction Maiden Stakes by 1¾L on his second career start in November, but proved he was worthy of a step up in class when third to Second Thought in the 7F Listed Spring Cup Stakes at Lingfield early last month. Debatable as to whether this trip will suit (likes to race prominently) but this is probably a shade out of his ability range anyhow.

Form: 61-3

Forecasts

Utmost (10/3), Syphax (4/1), Taamol (4/1), South Seas (4/1), Leshlaa (11/2), Volatile (14/1), Forest Ranger (25/1), Masham Star (33/1)

The inaugural running of the Burradon Stakes, which in time could develop into as important a Classic Trial as the well established Craven Stakes at Newmarket, with both Arena Racing Company and the Racecourse Executive deserving of immense credit for putting up this valuable prize. All of the eight runners are interesting horses in their own right, and are very much at different stages of their careers, but in terms of raw potential both South Seas and SYPHAX look most ready to kick on with realistic Classic ambitions. The selection is a shade behind the Andrew Balding trained colt in what he has achieved on the racecourse to date, but if he can progress in a similar manner to what he did between Musselburgh and York during the early months of 2017, he has a stack of big race entries to choose from in the months ahead.