15:20 Salisbury

Wednesday 16 August 2023

All13:4514:1514:4515:2015:5516:3017:00

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Stonehenge Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 1m 42.59s

(3)

Arabian Crown²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby

85/40

€600,000 yearling, Dubawi colt. Brother to useful winner up to 1m Everest Rose and half-brother to several winners, including smart winner up to 1½m The Juliet Rose. Failed to justify short-price favouritism on debut at Sandown but made no mistake over same C&D 3 weeks later. More to come over 1m.

Form: 31

(2)

Arabic Legend³³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding

13/8

Dubawi colt. Brother to 2-y-o 7f winner Youngest. Dam, 7f-1¼m (Canadian Grade 1) winner, sister to smart winner up to 1m Lumiere. Overcame greenness to make a winning debut in 10-runner maiden at Newmarket a month ago. Had a bit in hand on that occasion and he's the one to beat up in trip.

Form: 1

(7)

Lightning Leo²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 89

28/1

Plenty of stamina in his pedigree and made a winning start in likeable fashion in 7f Yarmouth novice in June, knowing his job. Limitations exposed to some extent in better company since (albeit he was far from disgraced at listed level latest). Hopes rest on step up to 1m.

Form: 104

(1)

Metallo³²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Charles Bishop| T: J Channon| OR: 87| C

33/1

Caused a surprise when making virtually all in 9-runner maiden over 7f here in June. Laboured effort on softer ground in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes and this a more realistic level.

Form: 017

(5)

Quatre Bras⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 84

14/1

350,000 gns Sea The Stars colt showed ability when third on debut at Yarmouth (7f) in June. Out of his depth in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket but down markedly in class and found plenty for pressure when landing 7f novice on the AW last week. More to come over 1m.

Form: 391

(6)

Son¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 99

13/2

Built on encouraging debut effort when taking 10-runner maiden at Newbury in June (6.5f) with a bit in hand. Fared about as well as could be expected in Group 2 company the last twice and this slightly easier tackling 1m for the first time.

Form: 3155

(4)

Spanish Poet¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett

5/1

Lope De Vega colt. Half-brother to several winners, including winner up to 1¼m Bourree and 1½m-1¾m winner Beamish, both smart. Dam unraced. Knew his job but created a very favourable impression when landing heavy-ground Sandown novice over 7f a fortnight ago. Sure to progress.

Form: 1

Forecasts

Arabic Legend (13/8), Arabian Crown (85/40), Spanish Poet (5/1), Son (13/2), Quatre Bras (14/1), Lightning Leo (28/1), Metallo (33/1)

Despite obvious signs of greenness, ARABIC LEGEND was talented enough to make a winning start with a bit in hand starting out at Newmarket a month ago. Sure to build on that over 1m, he can take the step up in class in his stride, probably at the chief expense of fellow-Dubawi colt Arabian Crown. Son is slightly more exposed but has tackled Group 2 company the last twice and he demands respect.