14:25 Newmarket

Wednesday 17 April 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:34 | Winning time: 1m 39.51s

(2)

Al Hadeer

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas

6/1

400,000gns yearling by War Front; 6th foal; brother to winners Camp Courage (6f 2yo) & War Office (7.5f AW), half-brother to winners Romeo Lima (6f-8.5f Fr 2yo/US) & Ask Me Another (1m2f). Owner's first pick on jockey bookings but yard started slow.

Form:

(4)

Damlaj

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Dane O'Neill| T: Owen Burrows

25/1

By Shamardal; sixth foal; half-brother to French 1m winner Lahqa dam French 1m3f-1m4f winner (inc Listed), out of 1m2f Listed winning close relative of smart stayer Samsaam. Connections won this 12 months ago with 25/1 chance.

Form:

(5)

Desert Icon

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas

12/1

Sea The Stars newcomer, €110,000 yearling; 5th foal; half-brother to winners Gardol City (8.5f 2yo/9.5f AW;) & Vegas Valentine (10.5f) dam French 1m1f two-year-old winner. Top connections so market support would be significant.

Form:

(7)

Geomatrician

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding

16/1

€95,000 yearling by Mastercraftsman; fourth foal; half-brother to winners I Can Fly (7f-1m inc AW 2yo/Group 2), Viscount Barfield (7f-7.5f inc AW/Listed) and All Of Me (1m4f). Likable pedigree for yard in form so must be respected here.

Form:

(3)

Junooh

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute

20/1

Fifth foal; half-brother to winners Khairaat (1m-1m2f) and Mezel (6f 2yo); dam 1m2f winning half-sister to 1m4f Group 2 winner Maraahel. From a good Shadwell family and well respected as one of four in this ownership.

Form:

(1)

Kung Fu

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: S & E Crisford

12/1

€50,000 yearling; first foal; dam 1m-1m4f winner (inc at 2/Group 3), half-sister to useful 7f-1m winner Aquarium out of winning granddaughter of Yorkshire Oaks winner/Irish Leger second Key Change. Well related but may need further.

Form:

(9)

Mutaraffa^h1

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R Kingscote| T: C Hills

33/1

70,000gns yearling by Acclamation; first foal; dam placed 6.7f in France, sister to 7f AW 2yo winner Grizzle. Already gelded, wears a hood and looks owner's fourth string so hard to be optimistic.

Form:

(6)

Samba Saravah

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Watson| T: J Noseda

33/1

Newcomer by Union Rags; $130,000 yearling. Third foal; dam unraced half-sister to US 1m1f and 1m2f (Kentucky Derby) Grade 1 winner Always Dreaming. Bred for dirt but respected yard especially when market speaks with confidence.

Form:

(11)

Uae Jewel

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian

10/11

400,000gns yearling; fourth foal; half-brother to 6.5f-2m Flat (inc 2yo)/2m-2m3f hurdle winner Bedrock; dam 7f & 1m (Listed) 2yo winner. Dante entry for respected yard so certainly one for any shortlist and market support would further optimism.

Form:

(8)

Wild Animal

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: C Soumillon| T: S bin Suroor

7/1

Seventh foal; closely related to Group-placed 6f 2yo winner Figure Of Speech , half-brother to 6f 2yo winner Epithet, dam Listed-placed 1m4f winner and half-sister to French 1m 2yo Group 1 winner Ultra. Likable pedigree and jockey booking noted.

Form:

(12)

Caesonia

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: C Hills

66/1

35,000gns vendor yearling. 8th foal; half-sister to winners Cartimandua (6f inc Listed), Terentia (5f inc at 2), Sejanus (8.6f AW 2yo), Chelabella (7f) and Jay Jays Joy (1m Fibresand). Others more obvious claims.

Form:

(10)

Inspirational

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: E A L Dunlop

100/1

82,000gns Y; fifth foal; half-sister to winners Snap Shots (5f-6f inc 2yo), Spy Ring (Ire 5f 2yo/US 6.5f) and Zebedaios (6f-1m GB/HK); once-raced dam half-sister to 1m Group 2 winner Independence. Yard's newcomers tend to need the run.

Form:

Forecasts

Uae Jewel (10/11), Al Hadeer (6/1), Wild Animal (7/1), Desert Icon (12/1), Kung Fu (12/1), Geomatrician (16/1), Junooh (20/1), Damlaj (25/1), Mutaraffa (33/1), Samba Saravah (33/1), Caesonia (66/1), Inspirational (100/1)

Races exclusive to newcomers are always something of a minefield; especially this early in the season and whilst market confidence is usually a worthwhile measuring tool the fact that this race was won by a 25/1 chance last year only serves to show that is only half of the story. The vote goes tentatively to AL HADEER based largely on the fact that Jim Crowley chooses him of four Sheikh Hamdan owned runners although that owner won this with a second string last season. Wild Animal, Uae Jewel, Junooh and Geomatrician all make some appeal on breeding and pedigree in that order of preference.