Now dropped back down in class, A’ali looks to hold leading claims of resuming winning ways in the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes for juvenile colts and fillies over 6f at Doncaster on St Leger Festival day 3 this Friday (15:45).
After shaping with stacks of promise when a neck runner-up to Spartan Fighter at Ripon, this Simon Crisford trained son of Society Rock opened his account in fine style when landing the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot by a neck from Ventura Rebel.
A’ali chased the leaders traveling strongly under Frankie Dettori and, when shaken up at the two marker, took up the running just over a furlong out.
He then showed a smart turn of foot to shoot three lengths clear, before idling towards the finish without ever looking likely to get caught.
A’ali went on to follow-up in a Group 2 at Deauville when beating My Love’s Passion by three-quarters of a length.
Although finding life too hot last time out when a five-length fifth of eight to the hugely exciting Earthlight in the Group 1 Prix Morny at the same venue when partnered by James Doyle, he was far from disgraced.
That was a high class renewal and this represents a return to calmer waters for A’ali, who has 9lb and upwards in hand on her seven rivals on official ratings.
The stable is also in fine form and operating at a strike rate of 26 per cent in the last 14 days at the time of writing.
A’ali is also now reunited with Dettori who is 2-2 on him. So, taking everything into account, he looks a worthy 11/8 favourite with Bethard to bag a third Group 2 success.
Angel’s Hideaway can reign supreme in Sceptre Stakes
Angel’s Hideaway has not been seen to best effect in her last two outings, but has some strong form in the book.
She looks worth siding with at 8/1 with Betfred to bounce back and land the spoils in the 7f Group 3 Sceptre Stakes that gets proceedings underway (14:10).
This John Gsden trained filly was a useful juvenile who ran well when third in a Group 3 on seasonal reappearance, before belying odds of 33/1 when a fine 1 1/2 lengths fourth of 18 to Hermosa in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
She was then far from disgraced when fourth to Space Blues in a Listed affair at Epsom.
The winner is a progressive sort who has since finished runner-up to subsequent Sussex Stakes winner Too Darn Hot in a Group 1 in France.
Angel’s Hideaway also ran well at Royal Ascot when a keeping on 1 3/4 lengths third of 18 to Space Traveller in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes over 7f.
Duke Of Hazzard, who came fifth, has come out and won three times since – including a Group 2 last time out at Goodwood.
Happy Power, the seventh home, ran a blinder next time up when a 1 3/4 lengths fourth to Too Darn Hot in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
The form of those races read well in relation to this and Angel’s Hideaway Is officially top rated in the 15-runner line-up off 105.
She also receives a handy 7lb weight-for-age allowance from Pretty Baby, who is rated 1lb her inferior, so on adjusted ratings comes out clear.
It makes the daughter of Dark Angel the one to beat in what doesn’t look the strongest renewal of the Sceptre Stakes.
All aboard Molatham in Flying Scotsman on St Leger Festival day 3
In the 7f Flying Scotsman Stakes (16:20), the Roger Varian trained Molatham is a strong fancy to take the step up into Listed company in stride and follow-up his recent success at York.
This son of 2000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder ran a race full of promise on debut at Ascot when running on strongly and failing by only a neck to overhaul Mums Tipple.
The winner has since gone on to land a valuable sales race at York in sensational style when making all to beat Rayong by an incredible 11 lengths in a very fast time, so that gives the form a strong look.
Molatham, who ran green that day, then showed the benefit of the experience when landing a 14-runner maiden on the Knavesmire in good style.
After travelling well on the heels of the leaders, he stayed on strongly inside the final furlong to cosily beat Celtic Art – a winner since – by a neck.
The pair pulled nicely clear of the third home Dubai Mirage, a well-regarded Godolphin owned newcomer, and it was a performance which marked Molatham out as an exciting prospect and one to keep firmly onside.
This does demand more, but he has bags of scope and untapped potential and holds an entry in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes.
Molatham is clearly held in high esteem and is thus taken at 2/1 with Betway to land this on St Leger Festival day 3 en route to bigger and better things.
