Weatherbys Stallion Book EBF Maiden Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 2m 6.87s

(3)

Baptism^p1³⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| BF

4/1

Sea The Stars colt (460,000gns foal); has run to a similar level of form on both starts; 7-4f when third of eight to Gold Souk (today's rival South Coast second) at Epsom (1m½f, good to firm) five weeks ago; tackles a new trip sporting cheekpieces.

Form: 53

(2)

Bondi Sands⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston

4/1

Well-named Australia colt (€260,000 foal); looked to be a real work in progress when a plugging on sixth of ten to Khalifa Sat at Goodwood (1m2f, soft) last week; this sounder racing surface should suit; stablemate of Douglas Fir.

Form: 6

(5)

Caledonian Crusade²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock

9/2

Twice-raced Gleneagles colt (€150,000 foal); ran better than the finishing position implies behind Panic Room at Haydock (1m, soft) four weeks ago; boasts a pedigree seeking a test of stamina (half-brother to the 1m4f AW winner Silver Character).

Form: 44

(1)

Douglas Fir

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: C & M Johnston

14/1

Australia colt (€70,000 yearling); sixth foal; closely related to the Listed-placed 1m-1m2f winner Seussical and a half-brother to the 1m-1m2f winner Music Seeker; interesting to see how he fares in the market with stablemate Bondi Sands.

Form:

(4)

Falcon Claws¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: M Botti

25/1

Union Rags colt from a US stakes-placed 6f-7f dirt winner; low-key in two AW starts (1m) so can't be considered as a realistic future winner on the strength of either of those pieces of form.

Form: 45

(6)

South Coast³⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor

5/4

War Front filly ($300,000 yearling); slowly away and green when a beaten favourite on debut at Kempton (1m) - the winner Miss Yoda remains unbeaten; finished 2½L in front of today's rival Baptism when runner-up to Gold Souk at Epsom subsequently.

Form: 52

Forecasts

South Coast (5/4), Baptism (4/1), Bondi Sands (4/1), Caledonian Crusade (9/2), Douglas Fir (14/1), Falcon Claws (25/1)

BAPTISM finished behind South Coast at Epsom five weeks ago, but there are reasons to believe that John Gosden's Sea The Stars colt can reverse those placings. This expensive foal (460,000gns) has probably failed to match general expectations so far, although with a pedigree best suited for a test of stamina he deserves more time before being judged. This extra two furlongs at a more conventional track, coupled with the fitting of cheekpieces should show him in a much more positive light. Of the others, both Bondi Sands and Caledonian Crusade are thought capable of further improvement with the benefit of time and experience.