Gorokai is set to make a mockery of official BHA ratings in the Maiden Stakes over five furlongs of Lingfield polytrack today, Yeah Baby Yeah is TWENTY-THREE POUNDS inferior, plus a 5lbs fillies’ allowance!
Gay Kelleway’s charge has been assessed so highly because the Irish-bred filly was campaigned at listed level on Deauville turf and subsequently ran at Ascot; handicappers invariably over-rate two-year-olds judged on the company they keep. You can’t blame them for that.
On my time-handicap, which is definitely on the line so to speak, Gorokai is a progressive type, trained by all-weather aficionado, David Simcock, and races on the back of a career-best at Wolverhampton only twenty days ago. Well-regarded Sir Roger Moore had to be hard-ridden to beat the Kodiac gelding by half a length with the rest two lengths and upwards in arrears. That was strong form.
Rest of this programme looks difficult and we move on to the Wolves Tapeta Friday-nighter where Simcock fields Qater-owned newcomer Song Lark in the seven-runner Maiden Stakes over an extended mile. Obviously we don’t know the full strength of this Dick Turpin filly, she will need to be useful if twice-raced Dwight D improves again!
Chances are Song Lark will be ‘in the market’ and so, hopefully, we will get a decent, unexpected, price about Dwight D, 10lbs better for the initial experience which is typical of the William Haggas operation.
“When in doubt, go for the top weight” is an old maxim; Guishan is a qualifier in the thirteen-runner aged handicap over six furlongs. At his best this Michael Appleby-trained six-year-old is different gravy and his yard seems to be firing on all cylinders.
SELECTIONS
LINGFIELD
Gorakai (nap);
WOLVERHAMPTON
4.45 Guishan (e.w.);
6.45 Dwight D