TEMPLEGATE takes on day one of the Doncaster St Leger festival confident of keeping his red-hot run going.
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DANIELLE (3.00 Doncaster, nap)
Looks just the filly to give the Gosdens another Park Hill Stakes victory. The Clarehaven Stables team have won four of the past ten runnings of this Group 2 contest and have another strong chance with this daughter of Cracksman. She showed promise last season and finished the campaign with a close second in a Listed contest here in November. That was over 1m2f in the mud but she looked much more of a stayer when returning from nine months off to go close in the Lillie Langtry at Glorious Goodwood last time. She relished the longer distance and was engaged in a battle from a long way out. Her lack of a run may have told as she just gave way inside the final furlong but there was less than a length in it at the line. She doesn’t mind some cut in the ground and should come on plenty for that comeback. James Doyle stays on board and can get another good tune out of this smart stayer who could be the type to get better with age.
MOON TARGET (2.25 Doncaster, nb)
Looks set to blast off in the May Hill as Sir Mark Prescott’s star filly bids to turn promise into Group 2 glory. She has looked a cut above in her first three runs, sauntering clear at Newmarket and then thrashing rivals at Yarmouth by seven and a half lengths. Even when beaten last time in Goodwood’s Prestige Stakes, she finished like a rocket, closing fast on the line in a race that didn’t suit. Up to a mile on Town Moor, with a strong pace guaranteed, this test looks tailor-made.
HALF SOVEREIGN (1.15 Doncaster, treble)
Can cash in for Karl Burke. She can stretch her winning streak to four after rattling off victories at Ayr, Yarmouth and Newmarket, each time showing more gears than the opposition. She’s bred to get even stronger as the season goes on and she’s the type to keep finding when the others have cried enough.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
All the below races are live on ITV1.
DONCASTER
1.15
HALF SOVEREIGN can cash in for Karl Burke.
She can stretch her winning streak to four after rattling off victories at Ayr, Yarmouth and Newmarket, each time showing more gears than the opposition.
She’s bred to get even stronger as the season goes on and she’s the type to keep finding when the others have cried enough.
Danger looms from big-priced Goldie Bear, who has been running in hotter races and may finally get the breaks with Hollie Doyle steering.
Gwen John, from the all-conquering William Haggas yard, looks a potential big improver over this trip, while Rogue Temptation brings rock-solid form and is lurking on a tempting mark.
March Ahead made all at Carlisle last time, but she may struggle to dominate against this lot.
Brisk Symphony won nicely at Newbury latest but the ground was rattling fast that day.
1.50
SONG OF THE CLYDE can call the tune again.
Clive Cox’s colt showed guts and gears to land York’s sales race last month, swatting aside 20 rivals in one of the hottest juvenile scraps of the season.
He travels like a dream, loves a battle and, crucially, has already proved he thrives in these cavalry-charge conditions.
Jel Pepper brings Group form and has been mixing it with the very best.
He didn’t have the best of draws at Naas last time and has more to come.
Brussels is an Aidan O’Brien colt on the up and he was unlucky not to bag a Listed prize at Tipperary.
Tadej has a Group 3 on his CV and if he settles better than at York, he could easily bounce back.
Calendar Girl has shown plenty on her two runs and can run into a place.
2.25
MOON TARGET looks set to blast off in the May Hill as Sir Mark Prescott’s star filly bids to turn promise into Group 2 glory.
She has looked a cut above in her first three runs, sauntering clear at Newmarket and then thrashing rivals at Yarmouth by seven and a half lengths.
Even when beaten last time in Goodwood’s Prestige Stakes, she finished like a rocket, closing fast on the line in a race that didn’t suit.
Up to a mile on Town Moor, with a strong pace guaranteed, this test looks tailor-made.
Aylin has solid Group form and keeps improving for Karl Burke, while Venetian Lace has been mixing it in hot company at Newmarket.
Sugar Island, from Ballydoyle, is bred to be top-class and could bounce back from her Curragh G3 defeat.
3.00
DANIELLE has plenty of steel for the Gosdens in the Park Hill.
Absent for nine months before her Goodwood return, she came back with a bang in the Lillie Langtry, finishing a close second after powering home late.
That run screamed of a filly with unfinished business and she should come on a bundle fitness-wise for that comeback.
She’s proven at this trip and looks hard to fault.
Stablemate Crepe Suzette has been knocking on the door in Listed races and shapes as if the extra distance will suit, while Santorini Star comes here on the back of a strong York handicap win and looks a real grinder who will relish a true stamina test.
Ireland’s Elana Osario is on a roll and brings winning Group 3 form for the respected Twomey and Lee team.
Consent went close in a French Group 2 last time and has place claims for Sir Mark Prescott.
3.35
RESPOND can deliver more on this handicap debut.
Andrew Balding’s improver bolted up at Haydock last time, travelling sweetly before stretching clear and the strong gallop on Town Moor should suit his stamina-packed profile perfectly.
He’s still only scratching the surface and looks thrown in off this mark, even though he sneaks in a pound wrong at the weights.
The inside draw gives Joe Fanning every chance to get him in the right position.
Italian Derby hero Molveno shoulders top weight but should run well while First Principle comes here unbeaten but is untested in a quality contest like this.
Castle Stuart caught the eye at York and sees out this trip strongly.
He looks more of a threat than Devil’s Advocate who should nonetheless find this easier than the Group races he’s been tackling for the Gosdens.
Templegate’s tips
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