Absolute Zero will be ridden by Paul Mulrennan in the 2-y-o Maiden Stakes over an extended mile of ‘good to firm’ Beverley today; ‘will water to maintain’ is mentioned but it’s the first of October.
Watering should have stopped a month ago; this represents gross irresponsibility and naivety, watering is one of the reasons why we prefer to ‘specialise’ on all-weather surfaces even though my heart and upbringing has been all about turf-flat racing on long-established surfaces throughout England.
Incidentally how can a racecourse which is on a hill be watered to satisfaction?
The climb to the line at this Humberside venue is five furlogs from the bottom, ‘Absolute’ madness!
Twice-raced Absolute Zero comes out clear ‘best-in’ on the time-handicap and though Mulrennan is the third jockey to be booked by in-form, Newmarket-based, Roger Varian, this Cape Cross colt will be difficult to beat, if replicating a recent Sandown effort when runner-up to Valitop over a similar distance.
It’s an interesting race because Sir Mark Prescott-trained Palisade is expected to improve on a promising debut, a comment also applicable to Deodoro, from Mark Johnson’s yard, and Kevin Ryan introduces Kajaki in The Grey Gatsby colours.
Odds of 2/1 or better (my minimum!) should be available, if not Absolute Zero will just be part of the daily patent.
Strange how a new month gets the juices flowing but that’s how one feels as we appproach the ‘back-end’ with relish; before AWR in 1989 we used to clean up annualy with big-priced winners during October by hard work and spotting in-form trainers; for instance Prescott’s yard is flying!
SMP introduces well-bred Sea The Stars colt St Michel in the 2-y-o Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs for which Mulrennan is booked by Mick Hammond for forecast favourite, Becky The Thatcher; both will be hard-pressed to cope with strongly-fancied, once-raced Column, our nap!
Column finished a close-up sixth to Move Up over a similar distance in a quality race at Leicester last month and is reckoned ‘special’ by James Fanshawe, a typical example of one whose patience could pay off in the next few weeks.
Following on will be another eight-race programme, on Chelmsford polytrack, where the first four races will be for two-year-olds.
Richard Hannon-trained Arizona Sunrise is a confident selection for the Maiden Auction Stakes over six furlongs; don’t oppose!