14:40 Newcastle

Saturday 6 June 2020

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:3017:0517:4018:15

Betway Sagaro Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 3m 34.63s

(11)

Ispolini^t²⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: B Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 115

6/1

Has undertaken the majority of his recent racing abroad, winning twice in early 2019 at Meydan (1m6f, good); finished last season with a flourish when clinging on to justify favouritism in the German St Leger (Dortmund, 1m6f good); major player.

Form: 211241-

(7)

Prince Of Arran⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 113| D

11/1

Split Withhold & Sir Chauvelin when finishing runner-up in the Northumberland Plate here in June 2018; in fine fettle last autumn, winning the Group 3 Geelong Cup (1m4f, good) and just losing out in a thrilling three-way tussle in the Melbourne Cup.

Form: 83220-3

(2)

Royal Line²¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 113| BF

6/1

Ready winner of the 2018 November Handicap (Doncaster, 1m4f soft); made a very late start to the 2019 season (endured mixed fortunes), albeit had the measure of Prince Of Arran (third) in the 1m4f Group 3 September Stakes on Kempton's Polytrack; 2m?

Form: 11/4135-

(9)

Alright Sunshine²⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 101| D

16/1

Progressive individual with a fine career strike-rate (7-11); runner-up in the Old Borough Cup at Haydock (1m6f, soft) on his penultimate start before a gritty success at Ayr (2m1½f, good); more required (feasible) in a stronger race on AW debut.

Form: 321121-

(8)

Jeremiah^p⁶⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: T Eaves| T: C Fellowes| OR: 90

150/1

Drew well clear when shedding the maiden tag in a Class 4 handicap at Thirsk (1m4f, good to soft) in August 2018; absent since; barring a miracle basically appears to be a mere travelling companion for much better fancied stablemate Prince Of Arran.

Form: 343201/

(1)

King's Advice⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 108

40/1

Won back-to-back races last summer, including in a game fashion in a valuable Class 2 handicap at Glorious Goodwood (1m6f, good to firm); didn't fire on the AW during the winter; last seen in action in South Africa; one of three for Mark Johnston.

Form: 102-330

(6)

Mildenberger⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 111| D

4/1

Finished third in an AW FTQ over C&D in December, and has continued in solid form since taking a couple of small-field conditions stake races at Lingfield (2m) and Chelmsford (2m); probably rates as the pick of the Mark Johnston trio.

Form: 363-311

(10)

Nayef Road²⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 112

8/1

All out to defy the favourite Constantinople in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood (1m4f, good) last August before stepping up in grade (third to Logician in the St.Leger at Doncaster); makes his first attempt at 2m on AW debut.

Form: 321537-

(4)

Rainbow Dreamer^p¹¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A King| OR: 105| D

17/2

Seeking a five-timer (& defending an unbeaten AW record; 5-5 : Polytrack, Tapeta & Fibresand); finished well on top of both Mildenberger and the disappointing King's Advice in various winter AW starts; raised in grade for first Newcastle appearance.

Form: 021-111

(5)

Sir Chauvelin¹⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Robinson| T: J S Goldie| OR: 102| C| D

66/1

Nearest at the finish when a distant third to Withhold and Prince Of Arran in the 2018 Northumberland Plate; without a win since the late summer of that year (a Class 2 Glorious Goodwood handicap); has plenty to find on the form book.

Form: 67034-3

(3)

Withhold^b1²³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 111| CD

10/3

Cesarewitch (2017) & Northumberland Plate (2018) winner; bled prior to a tilt at the 2018 Melbourne Cup, and a late defection from the 2019 Northumberland Plate; won twice last year, inc in the Listed Rose Bowl at Newmarket (2m, good); blinkers on.

Form: 18/1015-

Forecasts

Withhold (10/3), Mildenberger (4/1), Royal Line (6/1), Ispolini (6/1), Nayef Road (8/1), Rainbow Dreamer (17/2), Prince Of Arran (11/1), Alright Sunshine (16/1), King's Advice (40/1), Sir Chauvelin (66/1), Jeremiah (150/1)

Ascot's loss is undoubtedly Newcastle's gain with a humdinger of a Sagaro Stakes in store on what has been a landmark week for Gosforth Park. 2018 Northumberland Plate hero WITHHOLD sports first-time blinkers as he seeks to dominate (front runs) a field which features a Melbourne Cup second (Prince of Arran), a St.Leger third (Nayef Road), a German St.Leger winner (Ispolini), a September Stakes winner (Royal Line) and the five-timer seeking Rainbow Dreamer who remains unbeaten on an artificial surface. Although Roger Charlton's charge has endured a few setbacks since that imperious Northumberland Plate success his pure ability isn't at all in doubt.