Racecards
16:55 Newmarket
Kleinwort Benson Maiden Stakes (Class 4)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
Battalion (IRE)
252- Form 4-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey R L Moore
in rear, behind from halfway
- Form 57-3046
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer B W Hills
- Jockey Michael Hills
led, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened 2f out
- Form 333
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer E A L Dunlop
- Jockey S J Drowne
prominent, chased leader 7f out, led over 3f out, ridden and headed 1f out, soon weakened
Rainbow Zest
33- Form 6
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer P W Chapple-Hyam
- Jockey J Fortune
mid-division, ridden halfway, hung left from 3f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
Zaif (IRE)
46- Form 02-04
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey A Procter
held up, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on close home
Garafena
27- Form 322
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer Pat Eddery
- Jockey J P Spencer
held up mid-division, switched right 2f out, headway soon after, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, not quicken near finish
Jewaar (USA)
18- Form 342
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer M A Jarvis
- Jockey R Hills
chased leader 3f, remained prominent, ridden to lead 1f out, soon headed and no extra
Wassfa
28- Form 34-06
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer C E Brittain
- Jockey Kerrin McEvoy
chased leaders, outpaced and short of room approaching 2f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong
Verdict
Road Home is the pick over some equally promising sorts such as Battalion, Garafena and Jewaar. The finale is another tricky affair on paper, as it is difficult to work out which ones are going to improve the most, but Road Home put in a likeable performance on his debut over the course-and-distance three weeks ago, finishing a close third to Rhinebird, with Hunting Party in arrears. The dam is related to the stable's Savaanah Bay, and he too should improve as time goes by. Battalion got bogged down in the heavy ground on his Nottingham bow last November behind Reunite and has been given plenty of time. He has by all accounts worked well of late, but is best watched on his return. Garafena has experience and has been knocking on the door, but shapes as though a step up in trip will suit, while Jewaar pulled a bit too hard early on when runner-up to Multidimensional over a mile here last time. Digitaria is a half-sister to Observatory and will certainly be placed to good effect in due course and so is another to note, but we are happy to stick with Road Home.
Formwatch
Battalion (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Prominent, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 13, 8l behind Reunite (8-9) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (5) hvy in Nov.
Hunting Party (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) Led, ridden over 3f out, headed and no extra over 1f out, 6th of 11, 9l behind Rhinebird (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Jun.
Montpellier (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Led after 2f, hard pressed from 2f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, stayed on until lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 18, 1/2l behind Classic Punch (9-3) at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Jun.
Rainbow Zest 17-2 (8-9) Slowly into stride, held up, headway over 6f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 20l behind Cresta Gold (8-4) at Haydock 1m 4f mdn stk (5) gf in Jun.
Road Home 33-1 (9-3) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon not clear run, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Rhinebird (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Jun.
Zaif (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, keen, held up, ridden, headway over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 12, 4l behind Muzher (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 3yo mdn (5) sft in May.
Garafena 6-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, challenged winner inside final furlong, not quicken near finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Kaylianni (9-0) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo mdn fll (5) gf in Jun.
Gnillah 11-10fav (8-12) Tracked leaders, every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Wagtail (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 3yo mdn (5) pol in Mar.
Jewaar (USA) 5-1 (8-12) Pulled hard, soon tracked leader, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Multidimensional (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 3yo mdn (5) gf in Jun.
Wassfa 16-1 (8-13) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 5l behind Permanent Way (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Jun.
Digitaria (USA) Chester House filly, half-sister to several winners including the top-class miler Observatory.