Bayside Boy, under regular jockey David Egan, merits each-way support in an eight-runner Venturum Futurity Trophy Stakes over the straight ‘good to soft’ mile of Doncaster today; last of the ‘juvenile classics’ which lists several high-profile winners including Motivator and Camelot, dramatically beaten on Town Moor by my 25/1 winning nap, Encke, in the St Leger.
Aidan O’Brien attempts to land the ‘Futurity’ for a record-equalling tenth time with his only runner, Luxembourg, one of five entries made by the Ballydoyle ‘classic winning’ machine last Monday.
Luxembourg was impressive when landing the prestigious group two ‘Beresford’ on the Curragh four weeks ago, storming away from group two rivals and posting a useful time-figure but it doesn’t match the group one handicap mark achieved by Bayside Boy when two and a half lengths third to Native Trail in the ‘Dewhurst’ over seven at Newmarket a fortnight ago.
Prior to that, a month earlier, Bayside Boy gamely denied long odd-on chance Reach For The Moon on this wonderful course by a head and an extra furlong is likely to suit this New Bay colt ideally. ‘Horses for courses!’
In addition to Luxembourg there are two other Irish raiders and Andrew Balding’s Imperial Fighter will surely be ‘on the premises’ but ‘Boy’ am I looking forward to what looks a cracking wager.
General Panic is worth chancing in a six-runner Nursery Handicap over seven furlongs, the only stumbling block for Sean Woods’ charge which is absolutely ‘thrown-in’ on my time-handicap.
In the early stages of this 2021 season General Panic scored twice, second time over six in May when such a distance always represents a genuine stamina test for juveniles.
Earlier this month General Panic achieved a career-best over a similar trip on ‘good to soft’ Newmarket when fourth (of 28!) in a valuable ‘Sales’ race; a reproduction will be more than good enough under Egan who becomes the sixth different jockey in nine outings to partner this consistent Outstrip colt.
Good, recent form at this time of year is a major plus and I’m confident about the outcome!
Flaming Rib, one of seven declared for the listed 2-y-o Doncaster Stakes over six furlongs, is rated way superior on BHA ratings which concur with my time-figures computation. Tom Dascombe’s runner attempts a four-timer and though opposed by three superbly-bred first-up winners from high-profile yards, is totally unopposable; a good reason for journeying North to South Yorkshire where my punting will definitely be focused 100% on a smashing eight-race programme.
‘Time to ‘Outsmart’ those bookies’ was the Thursday headline…beaten a short head at 10/!-aaarrrgghh’!
Selections, Doncaster, 1.30 General Panic (e.w); 3.15 Bayside Boy (e.w); 3.50 Flaming Rib.
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