Desert Dreamer returns tonight to the scene of her sensational debut success under Hollie Doyle last month when Stuart William’s charge contests an eleven-runner Novice Stakes over six furlongs of ‘good’ ground on the famous Newmarket Rowley mile course; finding a serious rival to just about the best two-year-old we’ve seen this 2021 season is difficult, despite a penalty.
Hollie got a tremendous run out of the Oasis Dream filly, from nigh on last to first in the space of 300 yards, and Desert Dreamer looked for all the world to need further; an extra 220 yards should play to her devastating finishing burst and I’m looking forward immensely to seeing Sean Levey take over the reins. No jockey is riding with more confidence following a ‘stellar’ spell for the Richard Hannon ‘number one.’
Earlier this week Desert Dreamer was withdrawn from a winning opportunity due to unsatisfactory state of ground on Ascot turf; I wonder how many of you realise why my preference, albeit reluctantly, is for all-weather racing on consistent pristine surfaces of polytrack and tapeta.
Over-watering, mis-management and poor husbandry over decades have led to major problems on grass and I fear I’ll never see the wonderful, established Heath tracks ride fast and true again which is a desperate state of affairs for the English racing scene I’ve frequented for so long.
‘Flashing silks on lush green turf…’ was part of an article I wrote decades ago, never to be seen again!
With readers/punters in mind I’ll continue to specialise with AWR racing but, of course, the HQ of racing will always get prime focus and in addition to Desert Dreamer I’m expecting once-raced Danni California to make strong representation for Richard Spencer’s yard in an eleven-runner Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over seven furlongs; four weeks ago this filly by The Gurkha shaped well over course and distance under stable apprentice Angus Villiers who will again claim his invaluable 5lbs allowance.
Angus is an above average talent and definitely the reason why I’m selecting Danni California on my time-handicap analysis; ‘secondary’ claims are indeed like gold dust for serious punters.
My third and final selection on a long day which includes York’s ‘Dante’ meeting and four others (two jumping!) is consistent, hitherto luckless Godolpin-owned Magical Land in a nine-runner Maiden Stakes over ten furlongs of the greatest racetrack on this planet. Legendary ex-trainer Barry Hills thinks similarly.
We reckon if all racing was staged there we would bring bookies to their knees!
What a ‘Dreamer!’
Incidentally limited crowds are being allowed to return from next Monday!
Selections, Newmarket, 5.30 Desert Dreamer; 6.05 Danni California (e.w); 7.15 Magical Land (e.w).
Jeffrey Ross, horse-racing correspondent for WMN since 1983 when winning the most prestigious racing journalist award, Sporting Life Naps Table, before winning it a record number of six times collectively in the Racing Post, the current ‘trade’ paper, including 2019