14:45 Gowran Park

Wednesday 17 June 2020

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 2m 4.71s

(2)

Castel Gandolfo

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington

4/1

By far and away the most expensive in the line-up given his 425,000gns price tag as a yearling. Full brother to Juliet Capulet and Juliette Fair. Connections will be extremely disappointed if he is unable to go close in what looks a weak event.

Form:

(5)

Collaborating

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy

12/1

Dam won over 1m on the AW. Half-brother to two winners. Gelded. Unlikely to play a leading role with others making more appeal so is readily opposed on debut.

Form:

(7)

Desert Highway

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: O J Orr| T: D K Weld

11/4

High on the shortlist. By Dubawi and is a half-brother to the smart Princess Highway and Royal Diamond. Doesn't look the strongest of races so he should go close.

Form:

(6)

Gaelforce West

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: W J Lee| T: M O'Callaghan

5/2

Sales price rose from 40,000gns as a foal to €88,000 as a yearling. Closely related to a couple of winners and this son of Camacho represents a yard operating at a 29% strike-rate since racing resumed.

Form:

(3)

Loved Out

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Coen⁽³⁾| T: T Mullins

9/1

Requinto colt. Cost €18,000 as a yearling for stable who produced a newcomer to score on Sunday. Half-brother to six winners. Could have a say in an open race so market check is advised.

Form:

(1)

Man River

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Gary Halpin| T: J Davison

16/1

By Anjaal and a half-brother to three winners including Fuwairt and Black Bolt. Watching brief advised on debut for yard that are going through a dry patch (17 runners/164 days since their last winner).

Form:

(4)

Movie King

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: A J Martin

13/2

Already been gelded ahead of his debut. By Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom Half-brother to four winners in USA. Stable yet to get going but is one to keep an eye for the future.

Form:

Forecasts

Gaelforce West (5/2), Desert Highway (11/4), Castel Gandolfo (4/1), Movie King (13/2), Loved Out (9/1), Collaborating (12/1), Man River (16/1)

This race looks thin on the ground in terms of strength in depth, and with not much to go on ready preference is for CASTEL GANDOLFO. This Dark Angel colt cost a fair amount as a yearling, and connections look to have found him an ideal opening. He is likely to be given most to do by Desert Highway who looks the pick of the rest on paper being a half-brother to Irish Leger winner Royal Diamond. Both Gaelforce West and Movie King are also worth mentioning. The former represents a yard who have returned to action in good form, while the latter has an interesting pedigree but has been gelded ahead of making his debut.