Molatham is strongly fancied to take the step up into Group 3 company in his stride and land the spoils in the 1m Autumn Stakes for juvenile colts at Newmarket on Saturday (14:55).
This Roger Varian trained son of Night Of Thunder has done nothing but improve for each of his three outings and looks a hugely exciting prospect.
After finishing a highly promising neck second to the very smart Mums Tipple at Ascot under tender handling, Molatham duly showed the benefit of that experience to go one better and open his account in a 14-runner maiden over 7f at York.
He only had to be driven out to beat Celtic Art by a cosy neck, and the runner-up has since come out and won.
That taking success saw Molatham sent off the even-money favourite for the Listed 7f Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster’s St Leger Festival and his supporters never had an anxious moment.
Regular pilot Jim Crowley gave him a confident ride, coming from off the pace to take up the running a furlong from home and nudging him out to beat Wichita by half-a-length.
Molatham had plenty of petrol left in the tank, so was value for much more than the winning margin suggests.
The runner-up has since come out and bolted up by seven lengths in a Group 3 at this venue and is second favourite for the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes on this card.
That gives the form an extremely strong look. The way in which he has been finishing off his races suggest that Molatham will relish the step up to a mile in the Autumn Stakes.
So, at 5/2 with BetVictor, he looks a worthy favourite to land the hat-trick en route to even better things.
Al Suhail the pick of Godolphin pair in Autumn Stakes
Leading owners Godolphin have won two of the last three runnings of the Autumn Stakes, courtesy of Ghaiyyath (2017) and Best Solution (2018).
They saddle two interesting contenders in this year’s renewal in the shape of Al Suhail and Military March. The former is the clear form pick of the pair.
Like Ghaiyyath, this son of Dubawi hails from the yard of Charlie Appleby.
He came good at the second time of asking when bolting up at Yarmouth by four lengths in quick time and that earned him a crack at the Group 3 Solario Stakes over 7f at Sandown.
Al Suhail travelled really well for much of that contest, before being unable to find an extra close home and weakening to be beaten a length into third behind Positive.
The winner is a well-regarded sort who was scoring for the second time and had previously chased home top juvenile Pinatubo in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, so the form reads well in relation to this.
Al Suhail also appeals as the type that could have more to offer now stepped up to a mile, so – at a standout 5/1 with Coral – he looks a solid each-way contender and the main danger to Molatham.
Tritonic can rule for King in Zetland Stakes
In a wide-open renewal the 1m 2f Group 3 Zetland Stakes (14:20), the progressive Tritonic looks the value punt at 6/1 with Paddy Power.
This juvenile colt hails from the yard of Alan King, who is best known for his big race success over jumps.
However, the Barbury Castle handler has also tasted plenty of success on the level and in Tritonic looks to have a smart sort on his hands.
This son of German Derby winner Sea The Moon was a huge eye-catcher on debut at Haydock when slowly away, before staying on under tender handling to finish a three-quarters of a length fourth to Fred.
He then showed a good attitude to get up close home and score by half-a-length at Ffos Las, before following up over 1m at Newbury when taking the scalps of some well-regraded types.
Tritonc ran on strongly to readily beat Man Of The Night, who had previously won on debut and finished a fair fourth in a Listed contest, by 1 1/2 lengths.
The third home Cape Palace had also been talked of as another potential star for John Gosden, having won in scintillating style on debut at Newcastle by eight lengths in a fast time.
It suggests that the form is far from shabby, and if Tritonic was housed in a leading flat yard he would arguably be shorter in the Zetland Stakes betting than he is.
He has also been doing all his best work at the finish in all three of his races, so this stiff 1m 2f test for juveniles should be right up his street.
Bravo Sierra the bet in Boadicea Stakes
French raider Bravo Sierra looks to hold outstanding claims of providing Arc winning handler Andre Fabre with success in the Listed 6f Boadicea Stakes for fillies and mares (16:45).
This three-year-old daughter of Siyouni his only won one of her seven starts, but has run really well in defeat and now drops in grade.
She went down all guns blazing on her penultimate outing in a Listed contest at Deauville, when running on strongly and failing by just a short-head to overhaul Glass Slippers. The pair pulled nicely clear of the third home.
Glass Slippers won next time up at Longchamp, before going on to land the hat-trick at the same venue when beating So Perfect by three lengths in the Group 1 Prix de 1’Abbaye. That gives the form a rock solid look.
Bravo Sierra now drops back down into Listed company having been far from disgraced last time out when a 5 1/4 lengths eighth to City Light in a Group 3 at Longchamp.
She failed to stay the 7f trip that day, so the return to 6f is sure to suit and see her in a better light.
As Bravo Sierra also now gets the services in the saddle of Frankie Dettori in the saddle, a repeat of her run behind Glass Slippers should be more than good enough to land what looks a weak renewal of the Boadicea Stakes.
