Ultra Violet looked a top notch prospect when scoring on debut, so is fancied to take the step up into Group 3 company in her stride and land the spoils in the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday (15:45).
This Ed Vaughan trained daughter of Gleneagles was backed at long odds and sent off 10/1 on debut over 6f at this venue when storming clear of her seven rivals to score by eight lengths.
After dwelling at the start, Ultra Violet quickly made up lost ground to race kindly on the heels of the leaders under Kieren Shoemark.
She was then produced to take up the running inside the final furlong and drew effortlessly clear under a hands and heels to win going away from Game And Set.
The runner-up, and the third and fourth home, have all ran well since to make the frame – so the form does not look shabby.
Given the greenness shown early doors by Ultra Violet, it was a performance which can also be upgraded and one that suggests she is well worth a crack at this level.
She is sure to be much more streetwise with that run under her belt and the way in which she hit the line hard suggested the extra furlong here will be no problem whatsoever.
So, with Shoemark once again in the saddle, and the yard in decent nick, Ultra Violet makes plenty of appeal at the 11/4 on offer with Paddy Power.
More to come from Light Blush in Sweet Solera Stakes
Owners Godolphin have seen their famous blue colours carried to victory in the race five times since 2009, so that makes their sole representative Light Blush of obvious interest.
This Charlie Appleby trained daughter of Kodiac scored readily on debut over course and distance when pushed out to beat Craylands by three-quarters of a length.
She then lost little in defeat last time out when stepped into Listed company and finishing second to Walk In Marrakesh in the Star Stakes at Sandown.
Light Blush stuck to the task well to go down all guns blazing and be beaten just half-a-length to a rapidly improving sort who was completing a hat-trick.
Judged on that effort, there is certainly more to come from Light Blush, who can be backed at 7/2 with Betway. She thus rates the main danger in the Sweet Solera Stakes to Ultra Violet.
Motawaj taken to defy handicapper
Motawaj won in spectacular fashion last time out so looks a worthy 5/2 favourite with Betfred to defy a hike in the weights and follow-up in the 1m handicap (15:10).
That success came at Sandown where the Roger Varian trained three-year-old took up the running approaching the final furlong, then quickened smartly to power clear and beat Cheer The Title by six lengths.
Not surprisingly, the assessor has not taken kindly with the way in which the son of Dubawi made a total mockery of his mark of 82.
He has put up Motawaj a whopping 15lb, but it was such an authoritative display and that may well not be enough to stop him going in again.
The well-bred son of Dubawi has shown improved form in each of his six races and is clearly on a serious upward curve.
He has the look of a pattern performer in the making should things go to plan, and his handler has a superb record with handicappers making that level.
Motawaj is also two from three over the mile trip and now gets the services of James Doyle in the saddle, who is operating at a strike rate of 20 per cent in the last 14 days at the time of writing, for the first time.
Taking everything into account, then, there is simply nothing not to like about the chances of Motawaj and he’s strongly fancied to land the spoils en route to better things.
Daarik weighted to deliver for in-form Gosden
Trainer John Gosden has his team in red-hot form at present, so now eased in grade Daarik looks to hold outstanding claims of providing him with another winner in the 7f Yearling Sales Handicap (16:20).
This Hamdan Al Maktoum owned three-year-old son of Tamayuz is won two of his four starts and is progressing at a rate of knots.
After scoring in good style at Newcastle and Kempton, Daarik ran a cracker in his hat-trick bid last time out when runner-up to Fox Power in a Listed contest at Newcastle.
He threw down a strong challenge inside the final furlong before being unable to find any extra close home and be beraten just over a length.
The winner is a smart sort who is now rated 100 and the fourth home Marie’s Diamond has won twice since – including last time out in Listed company off an official rating of 103.
That gives the form a strong look and suggests that Daarik could have got in lightly on handicap debut off an opening mark of 97.
So, with further improvement looking assured, and Gosden operating at an incredible strike rate of 35 per cent at the time of writing, Daarik looks worth siding with at 4/1 with Ladbrokes to resume winning ways.
