It’s a hugely busy day of racing action in Britain and Ireland on Saturday with eight meetings
scheduled, and Newbury boasts plenty of quality action as they stage their Super Sprint card.
The Newbury offering also takes in the Listed Steventon Stakes and the Hackwood Stakes alongside the feature race, with the Super Sprint due off at 3.35pm.
Enda McElhinney has been assessing the Newbury action (1.15pm-5.20pm) and has picked out a trio to follow on the card.
3.35 - Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes (5f)
The Super Sprint at Newbury offers a chance for connections of horses acquired at relatively small prices to land a big pot.
The Super Sprint is a £250,000 sales race, in which the weights are determined by the purchase price of each entry rather than official ratings – ensuring it offers connections of horses acquired relatively cheaply to land a sizeable pot, with the maximum purchase price being £65,000.
William Haggas has won the race twice and his Relief Rally is a strong favourite having backed up wins at Windsor and Salisbury with a close second to the US-trained Crimson Advocate in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
That’s enough to see her rated 106 and she’s the clear pick on paper.
Maria Branwell, Chipotle, Vintage Clarets and Ventura Rebel have all earned similar claims in recent years before being beaten at short odds in this contest, so the value potentially lies elsewhere.
Eve Johnson-Houghton has a two-strong hand. Juniper Berries has close form ties with Relief Rally, while Bobsleigh was a three-length sixth behind River Tiber in the Coventry Stakes last time.
Roger Teal’s Ffos Las debut winner ROSARIO could be one who defies his inexperience to run a big race at generous odds.
He got on top late on in that first outing and the Archie Watson-trained second franked the form by winning his next start. Gelded prior to his debut, Rosario is a son of Harry Angel and bred to be speedy. He was a first two-year-old winner of the season for his trainer and should take a big step forward.
Richard Hannon has won this race four times since 2014 and the Marlborough handler has a seven-strong hand.
La Guardia, Dapperling and Liv My Life could all step forward but so too might ZIGGY’S PHOENIX, the mount of Jim Crowley.
She justified favouritism when winning the Lily Agnes at Chester (5f, soft) in May and has contested strong Listed races at Chantilly and Newmarket in two of three starts since. The Kodiac filly returns to five furlongs on this occasion and further improvement is likely. Five of the last ten winners of the Super Sprint were fillies and, with Hannon’s strong track record, she’s one to note at a chunky price.
Next Best: Ziggy’s Phoenix @ 33/1
1.50 - The Steventon Stakes (Listed, 1m2f)
Al Aasy is the odds-on favourite for this Listed contest but his supporters may be slightly concerned by his comeback at Newmarket in this month’s Listed Fred Archer Stakes. He was the second-favourite in that five-runner affair but found nothing when the pressure was applied and Jim Crowley allowed him to come home in his own time.
That was his first run in 14 months but, even allowing for that, it’s a brave call to be backing him at current odds, although he is the classiest of these on his best form.
Highland Avenue is 0-3 this season and winless since 2021, while both Dancing Magic and Oviedo are three-year-olds with what looks like plenty on their plate taking on older horses.
EPIC POET was most consistent in this grade last year for Jean-Claude Rouget in France and, while he lacks a run, new trainer Martyn Meade should have him primed and Oisin Murphy is booked to ride the Lope De Vega colt on his UK bow. He is fancied to make his mark for a shrewd team.
3.00 - Hackwood Stakes (Group 3, 6f)
Commanche Falls is enjoying a fine time of it this season and won in Listed company in Ireland earlier this month. That said, the home-grown sprinters at the Curragh aren’t a strong bunch this season.
Cold Case won in this grade at Ascot on his comeback but was much less convincing at Haydock later in May – he needs to leave that run behind him. The fact that Karl Burke’s team are in flying form right now offers hope in that regard and the Showcasing colt can be in the mix.
The one who appeals most is LEZOO, with Frankie Dettori, who is back from suspension, in the saddle.
A smart sprinting filly last season, Lezoo bagged the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. She was a non-stayer in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on her comeback and plenty went wrong for her since in what is starting to look a well-above-average Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot as she returned to this six-furlong trip.
She gets 3lb and more from the field now she’s dropped in grade and can return to winning ways.
