14:30 Sandown

Friday 7 July 2023

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Dragon Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 14:32 | Winning time: 1m 1.48s

(7)

Hackman¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: James Doyle| T: H Palmer| OR: 85| D

14/1

Half-brother to several winners and confirmed the promise of his debut when landing 5-runner maiden at Chester in May. Gave a good account of himself behind a smart prospect in the National Stakes over C&D but shaped as if amiss when well held in Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot last time.

Form: 3130

(1)

Hala Emaraaty¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: K T O'Neill| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 89| D

11/2

Overcame inexperience to make a winning debut in 6-runner maiden at Ripon (heavy) and just as effective on different ground when defying a penalty at Redcar. Ran to a just a similar level up in grade when seventh of 23 in Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, though. More needed.

Form: 117

(3)

Kylian¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: K R Burke| OR: 90| D

9/4

Took another step forward to get off the mark in good style switched to all-weather in 5-runner event at Newcastle (5f, 5/2) 16 days ago, pushed out. May do better still and merits plenty of respect up in grade.

Form: 321

(4)

Nazalan²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: S Woods| CD

17/2

£105,000 yearling, Starspangledbanner colt. Green when third of 8 at Nottingham on debut and built on that promise when making all in a C&D novice last month, unchallenged. That form has already been franked and he's open to further improvement.

Form: 31

(5)

Sergeant Wilko¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: K A Ryan| OR: 85| D

11/1

Shaped best when second of 8 in an early-season novice at Musselburgh and duly went one place better at Thirsk a fortnight later. Not seen to best effect when well held in Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot since and better judged on previous form as a result.

Form: 210

(2)

Born To Rock⁴⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 8-13| J: W Buick| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| D

6/4

Soldier's Call filly who looked a good prospect when making a winning start in 12-runner maiden at Yarmouth (5.2f) 44 days ago. Form has taken some knocks but the timefigure was good and she has to be considered the one to beat.

Form: 1

(6)

Queues Likely^b⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 8-13| J: S M Levey| T: J S Moore| OR: 70| D

100/1

Made most of experience when making all in 10-runner maiden at Windsor (5.1f) in June, seeming well suited by the switch to aggressive tactics. However, wasn't in anything like the same form under a penalty at Windsor last week and looks set for another struggle up in grade.

Form: 5714

Forecasts

Born To Rock (6/4), Kylian (9/4), Hala Emaraaty (11/2), Nazalan (17/2), Sergeant Wilko (11/1), Hackman (14/1), Queues Likely (100/1)

BORN TO ROCK cost plenty at the breeze-ups and clocked a good time when making a winning start in a Yarmouth maiden back in May, so there's no real urge to look beyond her, especially in a weak-looking renewal of this listed contest. Nazalan had clearly learnt plenty from his debut when making all over C&D last month and, with that form proving strong, he's feared most. Kylian opened his account in decisive fashion at Newcastle recently and warrants respect, also.