Siskin has looked a class act in winning all four of his starts to date and appeals as decent value at 9/2 with Coral to land a fascinating renewal of the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes for juvenile colts run over 6f at Newmarket on Saturday (15:00).
After comfortably beating Harpocrates by 2 3/4 lengths on debut at Naas, the Ger Lyons trained son of First Defence took the step up into Listed company in his stride when quickening clear to easily account for King Of Neptune by 2 1/2 lengths in the Marble Hill Stakes.
Siskin then put up a most impressive display in the Group 2 Railway Stakes back at The Curragh, where he travelled strongly throughout before taking up the running two from home to winning easing down by 2 1/2 lengths from Monarch Of Egypt.
That win saw him sent off odds-on for the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the same venue and, despite clearly hating the soft ground, the Khalid Abdullah owned colt showed a willing attitude to once again account for Monarch Of Egypt.
Although the winning margin was only three-quarters of a length on this occasion, Siskin was well on top at the finish and value for much more than the winning margin.
The return to a sounder surface is sure to suit and he appeals as the type to go on progressing. Siskin is currently a top-price 14/1 for next year’s 2000 Guineas.
Despite some top class opposition, he is taken to land the five-timer and further enhance his Classic claims.
Earthlight and Mum’s Tipple the main dangers in Middle Park Stakes
The market is headed by French raider Earthlight who is also unbeaten in four starts and hails from the yard of Andre Fabre, whose runners at headquarters always command the utmost respect.
This beautifully bred Godolphin owned son of Shamardal has shown improved form in each outing and looked right out of the top drawer when landing the Group 1 Prix Morny last time out at Deauville.
After settling nicely in midfield, Earthlight was asked to take close order two form home under a confident Mikael Barzalona.
He then took up the running at the furlong marker and ran on strongly to readily beat Raffle Prize by a neck.
The front two pulled nicely clear of the field and the runner-up went into the contest having previously landed Group 2s at Royal Ascot and Newmarket.
It gives the form a rock solid look, and Fabre has made no secret of the high regard in which he holds Earthlight. However, at odds of 15/8 with BetVictor, he looks plenty short enough and worth taking on.
The Richard Hannon trained Mum’s Tipple made it 2-2 when running out the scintillating wide-margin winner of a sales race at York last time out.
After breaking smartly, the son of Footstepsinthesand made all in the hands of Ryan Moore and quickened clear to beat Rayong by an incredible nine lengths.
Mum’s Tipple clocked a fast time in the process, but this is much tougher and he now has to back it up and show that it was a freakish rather than one off flattering performance.
He can be backed at 5/2 with Paddy Power to maintain his unbeaten record.
Lots to like about Kameko in Royal Lodge
In the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes that gets proceedings underway on a cracking card (13:50), Kameko looks a worthy 6/4 favourite with BetVictor to land the spoils in the 1m juvenile contest following a blinding effort in defeat last time out.
Trained by Andrew Balding, this Qatar Racing owned son of Kitten’s Joy created a good impression when making a winning debut in an eight-runner maiden at Sandown.
Under tender handling, Kameko took up the running at the furlong marker and was then always doing enough to hold off It’s Good To Laugh by half-a-length.
That taking success earned him a crack at the Group 3 Solario Stakes over 7f at the same venue.
Kameko looked all at sea when running green at the two marker, before finally finding his stride and powering home to go down by a nose to Positive.
The runner-up had previously finished a five-length runner-up to star two-year-old Pinatubo in the Group 2 Vintage Stake at Goodwood, so the form is strong and sets a clear standard in this.
Given how Kameko finished off that day, the extra furlong in this also looks sure to suit and he once again has the services of champion jockey elect Oisin Murphy in the saddle who is 2-2 on him.
So, in what doesn’t look the strongest renewals of the Royal Lodge, Kameko looks to have lots going for him and is strongly fancied to get back to winning ways.
Etoile the Cheveley Park choice
All-conquering Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has saddled the last three winners of the Cheveley Park Stakes, so – following an impressive debut success – Etoile looks decent value to add to that tally in this year’s renewal of the 6f Group 1 contest for juvenile fillies (14:25).
This Coolmore owned daughter of War Front was unusually pitched straight into Group 3 company at Naas back in May, but got the job done in style when beating Peace Charter by half-a-length.
Etoile get slightly hampered when the stalls opened, but quickly regained her composure and – despite showing distinct signs of greenness – stayed on strongly to get up close home and win going away.
It was a performance which suggested he could be something special and the runner-up ran very well next time up when third in a Group 2 at The Curragh.
Celtic Beauty, who came third, also gave the form a boost next time up when finding only Daahyeh too good in the 25-runner Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Etoile now has an absence of 132 days to overcome, but couldn’t be in better hands and looks sure to come on a bundle for that experience.
She does face two very smart types in the shape of Raffle Prize and Topbeau, but is open to any amount of improvement and looks overpriced at odds of 10/1 with William Hill given her powerful connections.
