Racecards
15:45 Sandown Park
British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 5)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 1m 1f 209y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £6,400 added
- Winner: £4,140
- 2nd: £1,232
- 3rd: £616
- 4th: £308
Diaboleo (FR)
274- Form 366-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey P J McDonald
held up, pushed along over 2f out, never on terms
Mister Merlin
108- Form 9/0
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer E De Giles
- Jockey S Donohoe
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
- Form 29-3
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey R Havlin
dwelt, soon tracked winner, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey Callum Shepherd
led early, tracked leaders, headway to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on
- Form 07-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer Tom Clover
- Jockey D C Costello
towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, never near leaders
- Form 8623-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 86
made most, shaken up over 1f out, ran on
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer R Varian
- Jockey S De Sousa
slowly away towards rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, never nearer
Real Poet (IRE)
264- Form 0-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey Louis Steward
in touch, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on same pace
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey Jason Watson
slowly away, keen soon in touch, headway 2f out, ran on final furlong, went 3rd towards finish
Valletta Sunset
268- Form 7-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer Miss J Feilden
- Jockey Ryan Tate
NonRunner
In depth
Verdict
Byzantine Empire wasn't right when a beaten favourite here in September and made a promising reappearance in what looked a strong maiden at Newcastle. John Gosden also runs the newcomer Wirraway, a $490,000 yearling by Australia owned by Godolphin and making a belated racecourse debut at the age of four. The owners are also represented by Untold Story, who is related to several smart winners as is the 500,000gns yearling Postileo, a son of Galileo. MAMBO NIGHTS is the form pick on his head defeat by Quadrilateral at Newbury and his defeat by Kenzai Warrior was boosted when the winner landed a Group 3 next time so Richard Hannon's charge gets the vote.
Formwatch
Diaboleo (FR) 12-1 (9-1) Held up well off the pace, headway over 4f out, soon ridden and beaten, last of 6, 30 1/4l behind Invictus Spirit (9-1) at Chester 1m 2f stks (4) gd in Sep.
Mister Merlin 100-1 (9-12) In touch, weakened over 5f out, 13th of 14, dist behind Punctuation (8-4) at Kempton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Feb.
Byzantine Empire 9-4fav (9-1) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Valyrian Steel (9-1) at Newcastle 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Jun.
Father Of Jazz Kingman colt out of Bark.
Grand Canal (IRE) 66-1 (9-5) Towards rear, some late headway, never a threat, 7th of 12, 15 3/4l behind Montather (9-5) at Chelmsford City 1m stks (4) pol in Nov.
Mambo Nights (IRE) 3-1 (9-5) Tracked winner, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, one pace and lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Kenzai Warrior (9-5) at Salisbury 1m stks (4) gd in Sep.
Postileo (IRE) Galileo colt out of Posterity.
Real Poet (IRE) 40-1 (9-5) Rearing in stalls, chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, weakened soon after, 10th of 11, 15 1/4l behind Highest Ground (9-5) at Leicester 7f stks (3) gf in Sep.
Untold Story Teofilo colt out of Tanzania.
Wishing Gate Holy Roman Emperor gelding out of Quiff.
Wirraway (USA) Australia gelding out of Fly Past.
Valletta Sunset 100-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, lost place over 6f out, well behind final 4f, last of 7, dist behind Ursa Minor (9-5) at Yarmouth 1m stks (4) gf in Sep.