15:25 Doncaster

Saturday 28 October 2017

All13:4514:2014:5515:2516:0016:3517:10

Racing Post Trophy Stakes (Group 1) (Str)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 1m 40.12s

(5)

Alfa McGuire⁴⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 88

100/1

Has won twice (both over slightly shorter at Beverley), but finished seventh in a sales race at this course last time out and needs to step up on that in a big way.

Form: 51317

(3)

Chilean⁴⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: M Meade| OR: 104| D

12/1

Highly progressive colt who won a Listed race on heavy ground at Haydock last time out. More needed here, especially as he's unproven on a faster turf surface.

Form: 411

(2)

Coat Of Arms²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 101| BF

66/1

Six race maiden who has beaten 11L by Verbal Dexterity on his penultimate start and has plenty to find with just about all of these if he's even to be considered for a place.

Form: 032243

(10)

Gabr³⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| BF| D

33/1

Didn't need to show much improvement to win a Yarmouth novice race last time out. Needs a big step forward on all known form to mix it with the best of these.

Form: 221

(7)

Loxley¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby

25/1

Scopey individual who dead-heated for first at Goodwood on debut last time over a furlong further. Seems the sort to make a better three-year-old but still entitled to run well here.

Form: 1

(8)

Merlin Magic¹⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 84| D

66/1

Off the mark at Nottingham last time out when stepping up to a mile but beat an only ordinary field by a small margin there and looks likely to be outclassed here.

Form: 3251

(12)

Roaring Lion²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 112| D

8/1

Undefeated in three starts, including in the Royal Lodge Stakes last time out. Has only Verbal Dexterity ahead of him on ratings and should handle the conditions well here.

Form: 111

(9)

Saxon Warrior³⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| D

13/8

Made it 2/2 with a comprehensive victory in the Beresford Stakes at Naas last time on soft ground but should be just as effective (if not better) on quicker ground. Prominent in the ante-post lists for next year's Classics and the one to beat.

Form: 11

(11)

Seahenge¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| C

9/1

Ran well to finish third in Group 1 company in the Dewhurst Stakes last time out. Probably needs to improve on that effort here and a wide draw unlikely to help, but clearly has talent.

Form: 1513

(6)

Theobald^p¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J S Bolger| OR: 103| D

100/1

Won nicely on debut at the Curragh in June but unable to build on that promise since, and has been beaten by the likes of Seahenge and The Pentagon in his recent starts.

Form: 12287

(4)

The Pentagon⁹³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108

10/1

Winner of the Tyros Stakes when last seen and shaped as if this step up in trip should suit. Ryan Moore gets off him for Saxon Warrior but not unusual for this trainer's second strings to come out on top.

Form: 611

(1)

Verbal Dexterity⁴⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 110

5/2

Group 1 winning high class performer who has only been beaten by one horse in three races (and subsequently reversed form with him), but he seems best with cut in the ground and this is his first run away from the Curragh.

Form: 121

Forecasts

Saxon Warrior (13/8), Verbal Dexterity (5/2), Roaring Lion (8/1), Seahenge (9/1), The Pentagon (10/1), Chilean (12/1), Loxley (25/1), Gabr (33/1), Merlin Magic (66/1), Coat Of Arms (66/1), Alfa McGuire (100/1), Theobald (100/1)

Aidan O'Brien could break the world record for the highest number of Group 1s in a year here and sends out four candidates, three with meaningful chances. SAXON WARRIOR won his Group 2 on soft ground at Naas last time, but seems likely to improve on better ground and remains very lightly raced having had only two starts; it's also notable he's the mount of Ryan Moore here. Roaring Lion is also undefeated and a winner in Group 2 company last time and also needs considering, while The Pentagon has more on his plate than when winning the Tyros Stakes but is also feared. If it rained heavily prior to the off, Verbal Dexterity would also have to enter calculations.