Racecards
15:00 Leicester
Sir Gordon Richards Conditions Stakes (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 1m 3f 183y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £10,300 added
- Winner: £6,490
- 2nd: £1,943
- 3rd: £971
- 4th: £486
Al Shemali
31- Form 606072
- Age 7
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer M Al Zarooni
- Jockey Ahmed Ajtebi
tracked leadrs, pushed along and outpaced over 3f out, rallied over 2f out, stayed on to modest 3rd
- Form 314344
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey W Buick
tracked leader 4f, settled in 3rd, went 2nd again inside final 3f, led approaching final 2f, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra
- Form 1
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer Sir H R A Cecil
- Jockey T P Queally
held up last, headway on wide outside over 4f out, chased leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace
- Form 713
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer M Al Zarooni
- Jockey R L Moore
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 8f out, led 3f out, narrowly headed approaching final 2f, rallied to lead again 1f out, stayed on well
Cloudy Spirit
170- Age 6
- Weight 8-11
- Trainer R Hollinshead
- Jockey David Probert
led until 3f out, weakened soon after and behind
Borug (USA)
30- Form 532484
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey Ted Durcan
held up in last pair, headway on inside over 3f out, ridden edged right and weakened 2f out
Verdict
COLOMBIAN has acquitted himself well in French Pattern races since winning a Chester maiden in May, including a fine fourth in the French Derby. Though he was pulled out of the St Simon Stakes at the weekend due to unsuitably fast ground, his class is likely to take him to victory here. Should the going prove against him, then Sadeek's Song could take advantage as he was not far away in a decent York handicap latest, while it's likely we haven't seen the best of Late Telegraph yet, though he ran well enough in beating a stablemate of Colombian on his debut at Goodwood. The veteran Al Shemali was a satisfactory second in Listed company last time but has to give lumps of weight away here.
Formwatch
Al Shemali 9-2 (9-4) Held up in touch, hampered after 2f, ridden over 3f out, stayed on to go a never dangerous 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Mahbooba (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 4f Listed stks 3yo (1) gf in Sep.
Colombian (IRE) 18-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, led narrowly inside final 2f, headed and no extra over 1f out, 4th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Reliable Man (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 4f 3yo Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Late Telegraph (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, held up in touch in mid-division, headway 3f out, hanging right over 1f out, challenged final 100 yards, led close home, won at Goodwood 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Aug beating Dick Doughtywylie (9-3) by hd, 7 ran.
Sadeek's Song (USA) 7-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Oceanway (9-4) at York 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Cloudy Spirit 7-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 8th, soon no impression, 5th of 17, 19l behind Liberate (10-9) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Borug (USA) 8-1 (9-5) Keen tracked leading pair, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 4, 10l behind Anatolian (9-7) at Newmarket 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Sep.