Weekend racing review: Will Enable get a fairytale ending?
26 Aug
Horse Racing
Chad Yeomans
Is Battaash the best sprinter in the world? And where does Stradivarius go next? Chad Yeomans reflects on the weekend's racing at the York Ebor Festival.

Where does Japan go next? 

Prior to the Juddmonte, I’d convinced myself that Japan was going to be ridden with restraint. I assumed he would come from off the pace but leave it all too late, confirming that the trip was too short and thus setting up a shot at the St Leger. 

Instead, he wore down Crystal Ocean by getting his nose in front during the final three strides.  

Time and time again, I’ve second-guessed Aidan OBrien, and every time he proves me wrong. When will I learn?!  

It seems it will be the Irish Champion Stakes next and then that may be it for the season. They might go to the Breeders Cup, but I think a four-year-old career beckons. 

Races like the Coronation Cup at Epsom, where he was mightily unlucky in the Derby this year, could be the early season target. 

Is Logician a St Leger winner? 

Logician made light work of the field in the Great Voltigeur and shot to the head of the St Leger market. 

I was against him before the race as he just hadn’t shown enough for me to back him at such a short price.  

He did win impressively he travelled, he kicked and he stayed which is everything you need in order to win the big race at Doncaster. 

But I still prefer horses who are a bit more battle-hardened, so I might overlook him again – at my peril!  

Is Mums Tipple a Group 1 horse?

 

Mums Tipple who I tipped to win the Sales race - absolutely bolted up to obliterate the field by 11 lengths on Thursday. 

You couldn’t help but be impressed with that performance, and top-class company beckons.   

Without doubt, you’d have to question what was in behind, but to show that speed and to continue to lengthen the way that he did certainly screamed of a very good horse.  

Will Enable get her fairytale ending? 

Enable kept up her unbeaten run in the Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday with her swansong set to be in the Arc, and I’ve not seen anything to suggest ‘The Queen’ won’t win it again.  

While the Arc is a great race, the jockeys play such a huge part in what is a very tactical affair. 

With Frankie Dettori on board, she’s got the best jockey in the world on her back, and it would be a well-deserved finale for connections who kept her racing at five years old.  

How about Stradivarius? 

The cream often rises to the top in the staying division and we’ve seen that with Stradivarius over the past couple of years as the winning run has gone on and on. 

He won the Lonsdale Cup in usual fashion on Friday and, consequently, took home another £1m bonus.  

He’s got a great record everywhere, but has always been particularly impressive at Ascot. 

Were he to turn up on Champions Day at Ascot, rather than take on Enable in the Arc, then another victory should be a formality. 

Is Battaash the best sprinter in the world? 

Battaash broke his York hoodoo in the Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday in supremely impressive fashion. 

Now he seems to have ironed out his quirks, I think it’s probably fair to say he is now the best sprinter in the UK and Ireland,especially over 5f 

As predicted, Ten Sovereigns couldn’t go the early clip and found himself swept off his feet, but will be sure to win other races.  

No matter where Battaash goes next, he’ll be tough to beat. Having said that, if he did go over to America, then I wouldn’t be keen to support him, as all of that travelling can irritate sensitive horses.  

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