13:50 Newbury

Saturday 19 August 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:4017:15

BetVictor Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 2m 53.79s

(4)

Jack Darcy¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: N Callan| T: P & O Cole| OR: 107| C

9/1

Smart on his day, including good 4 lengths second of 7 to Hamish in Glorious Stakes at Goodwood (1½m, soft) 15 days ago, leading for a long way.

Form: 547-552

(6)

Kemari^p⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 108

7/1

First win since the 2021 Queen's Vase when seeing off 4 rivals in a 1½m Newmarket listed race 6 weeks ago. Prominent showing on the cards if showing up here in similar form.

Form: 26-4251

(7)

Shandoz⁶⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 106

12/1

Smart performance to win 1½m Kempton listed race in November 2021 but he hasn't been seen since. The fact he's gone well fresh before provides hope on this belated return to action.

Form: 111021/

(5)

Ching Shih²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D M Simcock| OR: 95| C

20/1

Useful filly who was placed at listed level over 1½m on her first 2 outings this term (4 lengths third to Luisa Casati at Goodwood first occasion). Latest midfield effort in France was respectable but she has something to find at this level.

Form: 360-338

(1)

Luisa Casati¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S M Levey| T: T Ward| OR: 104

25/1

Useful mare who built on solid return in France to land 1½m listed event at Goodwood in May. Creditable fifth in Lancashire Oaks at Haydock next time and presumably unsuited by very testing ground back at Goodwood since

Form: 6/4-3156

(8)

Arrest⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 110

5/6

Runner-up in a French Group 1 on his final 2-y-o start and reappeared to win the Chester Vase in May (both heavy ground). Not in the same form on a firmer surface in the Derby at Epsom and King Edward at Ascot since but better can be expected back on easier ground this time.

Form: 112-105

(2)

Klondike^t³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 104| C

9/2

600,000 gns Galileo colt who overcame inexperience to win on his debut (11f, heavy) in April. Very useful efforts when 3 lengths second to Gregory in Goodwood listed (11f again) and 2½ lengths fourth to Castle Way in Newmarket Group 3 (13f) since. Unlikely he's reached his limit after 3 starts.

Form: 124

Non-Runners

(3)

Enemy¹⁸

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: Ian Williams J: R Kingscote

Forecasts

Arrest (5/6), Klondike (9/2), Kemari (7/1), Jack Darcy (9/1), Shandoz (12/1), Enemy (16/1), Ching Shih (20/1), Luisa Casati (25/1)

Four of the last 6 runnings have gone the way of a 3-y-o and the younger generation can come to the fore again, with ARREST taken to resume his progression now away from firmish ground. Klondike could easily have more to offer after only 3 starts and is second choice ahead of Godolphin's Kemari.