The Weekends Racing – by The Sportsman Racing

The Group 1 Middle Park Stakes for two-year old’s is a competitive heat but it can go the way of Marco Botti’s Moohaajim. This is a blistering renewal with the unbeaten colts Reckless Abandon and Blaine in opposition. Moohaajim was beaten by Reckless Abandon on France on his previous start but he was short of racing room and showed inexperience on the track. With that run and an eye-catching win in the Mill Reef at Newbury behind him he is capable of reversing the form. Jockey Adam Kirby has ridden both Moohaajim and Reckless Abandon this season and is therefore well positioned to judge the merits of both. Kirby has plumped for Moohaajim. Cristofor Colombo, the aforementioned Blaine and Master Of War are all respected rivals. On to the 2.55 and another Group 1 in the shape of the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes. It can pay to follow an outsider in this race with five of the last forty-nine winners priced 20-1 or bigger but it’s impossible to overlook the jolly – Dawn Approach. Five wins from five races is the record of Jim Bolger’s youngster and he can make it six on the trot being 8lb clear of his nearest rival. On his previous UK visit Dawn Approach was impressive when beating the subsequent Grand Criterium winner, Olympic Glory and showed progression when sweeping away the opposition in the National Stakes at the Curragh last month. The form is impressive and he has illustrated himself the best two year old in the UK & Ireland in an admittedly poor year of juveniles. A versatile ground performer the 2,000 Guineas is within his sights and he can plunder the Dewhurst en-route. The big one is next up in the shape of the huge-field Cesarewitch and in a wide open contest my two against the field are Montaser and Hurricane Higgins. David Simcock’s Montaser is proven in staying handicaps with two wins this season including over two-miles. Second to Handsome Man when last seen on course over 1m 6f the extra 6f on Saturday should be to his advantage. Simcock has previous form in the race, winning with Darley Sun in 2009 and if the rain stays away Montaser can give supporters a big run at 12-1. Hurricane Higgins won the Goodwood Stakes over 2m5f earlier this season and therefore the 2m2f of the Cesarewitch will hold no fears. A strong gallop is a necessitty for Mark Johnstons four-year old gelding and pace in the race is guaranteed. A mark of 99 looks fair with the horse being officially 10lb well in at the weights and he looks capable of running a big race in a contest he has long been earmarked for. The Darley Stakes rounds proceedings off at 5.15 and Bronze Angel can send punters home happy. Massively on the upgrade, Marcus Tregoning’s three-year old was strutting his stuff on the all-weather only last Winter but finished a close third in the Brittania Stakes at Royal Ascot before landing the Cambridgeshire with aplomb off bottom weight. Further progression looks likely for this son of Dark Angel.]]>