Racecards
13:55 Sandown Park
Sodexho Prestige E.b.f. Maiden Stakes (Class 5)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 5f 6y
- Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
Castano
62- Form 32
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
with winner, ridden and held when hung right final furlong, no impression
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey S Sanders
mid-division, pushed along halfway one pace final 2f
Oldjoesaid
25- Form 72
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer H Candy
- Jockey Kerrin McEvoy
made all, shaken up over 1f out, ran on final furlong comfortably
Rocker
91- Form 8
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer P W Chapple-Hyam
- Jockey Ted Durcan
in touch on inside rail, headway and switched left over 1f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, took 3rd last strides
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
in touch on inside, not clear run twice from over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
- Form 4836
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 73
chased leaders, ridden when hampered on rail just inside final furlong, one pace after, lost 3rd final strides
- Age 2
- Weight 8-12
- Trainer J Akehurst
- Jockey J Quinn
towards rear, pushed along halfway, no headway
- Age 2
- Weight 8-12
- Trainer W J Haggas
- Jockey R Hills
switched right start and held up in rear, kept on final furlong, no danger
Land Ahoy
14- Form 6307
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey P Robinson
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
In a tricky opener, we will side with Gower ahead of maybe Castano and Rocker. Castano has knocked at the door on each start so has to be rated a player today with the form rating as reasonable enough. Closely related to Patavellian and Avonbridge, Gower is an interesting newcomer, while Land Ahoy probably was a touch harshly treated in a nursery last time but will be more at home at this level and could go well. Oldjoesaid has shown enough to be given some thought, while Rocker, a 60,000 guineas son of Rock Of Gibraltar is surely better than his tame Goodwood debut effort. Another son of 'The Rock, Solid Rock, has something to like on breeding, and Vitznau has also shown enough whereby his chance cannot be dismissed. With Divalini having cost 58,000 guineas, Dualagi holding plenty of interest in terms of breeding - although he has since been sold on at a much lower price than his original 44,000 guineas price tag, Miss Autumnal having plenty of speed in her pedigree, and Tahafut also having enough to like on breeding in order to be given some thought, it adds up to an interesting contest, with the vote going to Gower.
Formwatch
Castano 6-1 (9-3) Chased winner, ridden over 1f out, soon beaten, 2nd of 4, 5l behind Conquest (9-3) at Nottingham 5f 2yo mdn aut (6) frm in Jul.
Gower Averti colt out of a moderate racemare.
Oldjoesaid 25-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear main group, headway over 1f out, ran on to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Sakhee's Secret (9-3) at Windsor 6f 2yo mdn (4) gd in Aug.
Rocker 10-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, one pace final 2f, 8th of 14, 6l behind Prince of Elegance (9-3) at Goodwood 6f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Jun.
Solid Rock (IRE) Rock of Gibraltar colt, half-brother to 2 winners on the Flat.
Vitznau (IRE) 12-1 (8-7) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left and one pace inside final furlong, 6th of 18, 7l behind Dubai Builder (8-7) at York 6f 2yo hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Tahafut Marju filly out of 6f winner Farha.
Land Ahoy 12-1 (9-2) Held up in touch, ridden halfway, weakened inside final 2f, 7th of 10, 4l behind Black Moma (8-6) at Sandown 5f 2yo hcp (4) gd in Aug.