Sweet Aroma has excellent prospects of making it third time lucky in the eleven-runner ‘aged’ Fillies’ Novice Stakes over six furlongs of Newcastle tapeta today having performed adequately on a similar surface at Wolverhampton eleven days when this Richard Fahey-trained Kodiac three-year-old was beaten only two and a half lengths by Bare Necessity and Sharon Macready in a fast-run dash.
Form from this unique left-handed circuit often proves useful, especially when applied to the Gosforth Park course which is about the fairest in the United Kingdom bar none; there was a lot to like about the Sweet Aroma buckled down to her task in the closing stages where she grabbed third in the last strides under a sensible ride from experienced ‘PJ’ McDonald a particular favourite of the Malton-based ‘winning machine’ who will be looking to raise the ante in the next few weeks as we approach the 2022 turf flat racing season.
On the time-handicap Sweet Aroma improved from an encouraging ‘quiet debut’ under the Scot over five furlongs at Catterick, another dynamic course where thoroughbreds learn plenty, there is no hiding place at the North Yorkshire course, not a ‘stones throw’ from Fahey’s yard as the crow flies.
Although the draw is a matter of indifference on the Gosforth Park straight Sweet Aroma is berthed eleven, by the stands rail, next to Lord Paramount an obvious but lone danger unless any of four newcomers prove above average which is unlikely given we are discussing a class five sprint.
I’m half a mind to risk a dual forecast because Sweet Aroma and Lord Paramount, an eye-catching course and distance fourth first-up fifteen days ago, are bound to be on full throttle from the get-go with experience a telling factor; should be good entertainment.
Half an hour later, over the same course and distance, triple winner Sharrabang comes out clear ‘best-in’ for a Classified Stakes and cannot be seriously opposed; why would I spend hours computing race-times to miss out on obviousness?
Sharrabang, a tough, consistent six-year-old, trained by Stella Barclay, was given a ‘freshener’ against handicappers last month and should be spot on to go close.
Recently there have been several futile initiatives to broaden the appeal of horse-racing to a wider audience following disappointing attendances; I’m convinced there is too much racing and it isn’t so much an entertaining spectacle, more of a way of life.
I’ve loved every minute of a very long innings and wouldn’t change my involvement for anything, not even my garden and ubiquitous bird families which attempt to eat me out of house and home, bless ’em!
Shiskin runs Saturday when another load of short-priced soccer bets will be available for laying purposes; can’t wait!
Incidentally Leicester City is far from safe in the Premier League, and looks shallow!
Selections, Market Rasen, 12.30 Barony Legends; Newcastle, 6.00 Sweet Aroma (e.w); 6.30 Sharrabang (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