Racecards
14:00 Newbury
Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (registered As The John Porter Stakes) (group 3) (Class 1)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f 5y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places on the straight course.
- Surface: Turf
- £65,000 added
- Form 540-21P
- Age 6
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey A Munro
held up in touch, took keen hold, pushed along 4f out, ridden 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
- Form 151111-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer J L Dunlop
- Jockey R Hills
soon led, headed over 3f out, soon ridden and edged right, weakened 2f out
- Form 102327-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey M Fenton
held up in rear, took keen hold, pushed along 4f out, never in contention
- Form 673226/
- Age 10
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey J Fortune
slowly into stride, always in rear, eased over 1f out, tailed off
- Form 16804-1
- Age 8
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 103
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 5292/43-
- Age 7
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer L M Cumani
- Jockey Kieren Fallon
mid-division, headway 8f out, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 634128-
- Age 6
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer P & O Cole
- Jockey J P Spencer
dwelt, soon reached mid-division, dropped to rear 4f out, no danger after
- Form 13-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer Sir H R A Cecil
- Jockey N Callan
held up towards rear, switched right 4f out, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, edged left over 1f out, no impression
- Form 111
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 106
slowly into stride, soon reached mid-division, outpaced over 3f out, stayed on well from over 1f out, not troubled leaders
- Form 2144-46
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer M Al Zarooni
- Jockey Ahmed Ajtebi
always prominent, switched right 4f out, led over 2f out, edged right and headed well over 1f out, soon hung left, lost 2nd inside final furlong, no extra
- Form 21173-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey R L Moore
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, led well over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong
- Form 213-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer Sir H R A Cecil
- Jockey T P Queally
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, hung left 1f out, kept on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no impression on winner
- Form 1/91325-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer M P Tregoning
- Jockey Richard Hughes
led early, prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
- Form 4114/24-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey L Dettori
prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 103112-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 102
mid-division, headway over 2f out, not quicken over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
- Form 5/3119-5
- Age 6
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 107
Nonrunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Sir Michael Stoute has a fine record with older horses and we'll put our faith in HARBINGER to enhance that claim by beating the likes of Purple Moon, Akmaal, Halicarnassus and Clowance. Our selection made his debut in the Wood Ditton last year, evidence of the regard in which he's held, and ran well for second before taking a maiden in rudimentary fashion at Chester. A subsequent Group Three win at Goodwood saw the Dansili colt promoted to St Leger favouritism before he disappointed thereafter, however it's surely significant that he's been kept in training and our feeling is the best is yet to come. Purple Moon, a former winner of the Ebor, has developed into a high-class sort and carries the highest official rating of 115. He's been globe-trotting though and perhaps those exertions will have taken the edge of him, so we're prepared to look elsewhere. Akmaal did nothing but improve last season and is a horse to keep on the right side but this is very much his minimum trip and there will be other days for John Dunlop's horse, Clowance has a good record fresh and an even better one at this track so should run well whilst Halicarnassus is a tough sort who could bounce back from a lifeless display in Dubai last time. Buxted is unbeaten so far and continues to improve but this will be his toughest test and he's untried on turf, so more of a threat may be Traffic Guard who is rated 114 and fully deserves it. A tight Group Three that can go to Harbinger with conditions ideal and a good deal more to come.
Formwatch
Halicarnassus (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) in a race won by Campanologist (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f stks G2 gf in Mar, 13 ran.
Akmal 9-4fav (8-4) Led after 2f, steadied pace 10f out, gradually increased pace from 4f out, ridden and ran on gamely towards finish, won at Newmarket 2m Grp 3 (1) gd in Oct beating Nehaam (8-4) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Allied Powers (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Chased hard,tired str, 7th of 8, 11l behind Champs Elysees (9-0) at Woodbine(USA) 1m 4f Grp 1 stks gf in Oct.
Balkan Knight 11-2 (9-0) Held up, switched left 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace, 6th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Veracity (9-0) at Newmarket 2m Grp 3 (1) gd in Oct '08.
Dansili Dancer 8-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, switched left to challenge 2f out, led over 1f out, driven clear, ran on well, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Mar beating King Olav (9-5) by 6l, 14 ran.
Purple Moon (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Tracked leader; every chance final 300m; just failed, 3rd of 15, hd behind Eastern Anthem (9-0) at Nad Al Sheba(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Mar '09.
Traffic Guard (USA) 5-1 (9-2) 8th of 10, 23l behind Cirrus Des Aigles (8-11) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 4f Group 2 sks in Oct.
Blizzard Blues (USA) 11-2 (8-11) Pushed along early, soon in touch, lost place and dropped to rear 3f out, driven over 1f out, ran on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Peligroso (8-11) at York 1m 2f cond Stakes (3) gd in Oct.
Buxted (IRE) 5-2fav (9-0) Held up, ridden 2f out, ran on strongly to lead final strides, won at Kempton 1m 4f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) pol in Mar beating Record Breaker (9-2) by 1l, 8 ran.
Claremont (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) 6th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Campanologist (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f stks G2 gf in Mar.
Harbinger 6-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden and effort 2f out, kept on same pace under pressure final furlong, 3rd of 11, 6l behind High Heeled (8-7) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Manifest 4-6fav (9-0) Tracked leaders in 4th, chased winner over 3f out, ridden 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 3rd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Akmal (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 6f 3yo Listed stks (1) gf in Oct.
Oasis Knight (IRE) 4-1 (8-4) Keen in touch, ridden to chase winner 2f out till 1f out, one pace inisde final furlong, 5th of 8, 1 3/4l behind Akmal (8-4) at Newmarket 2m Grp 3 (1) gd in Oct.
Clowance 4-1 (9-1) 4th of 9, 6l behind Ask (9-4) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 7f stk sft in Oct.
Polly's Mark (IRE) 2-1fav (8-12) Tracked leaders on rails, led on inner over 2f out, driven and edged left inside final furlong and kept on until headed final stride, 2nd of 8, shd behind Spirit Of Dubai (8-9) at Ascot 1m 4f fll lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Furmigadelagiusta 15-8fav (9-6) Raced wide, tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 7, 31l behind Merchant Of Dubai (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 4f stks (2) gs in Mar.