Racecards
13:40 Kempton Park
betdaq.com 20 Free Bet Maiden Stakes (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- £4,500 added
- Winner: £2,911
- 2nd: £866
- 3rd: £433
- 4th: £216
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey James Doyle
held up in touch on inside, headway into 3rd over 2f out, went 2nd final furlong, one pace and no impression on winner
- Form 9-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-9
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey William Twiston-Davies
steadied start, always in rear, pushed along and struggling over 4f out, well tailed off
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey R Havlin
tracked leading pair, went 2nd on inside 4f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, clear when edged left inside final furlong, kept on well
Black Key
14- Form 4
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey Oisin Murphy
tracked leading trio, went 3rd over 3f out until pushed along over 2f out, 4th and no impression final 2f
- Form 00-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Trainer P & O Cole
- Jockey Jim Crowley
tracked leader until ridden 4f out, weakened quickly over 3f out, tailed off
- Form 9
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
led and set steady pace, pushed along over 2f out, shaken up and headed over 1f out, dropped to 3rd hung right and no extra final furlong, eased when beaten close home
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey L P Keniry
held up in last trio, pushed along halfway, soon struggling, never a factor
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Trainer Mrs Mary Hambro
- Jockey F Sweeney
last trio, pushed along halfway, struggling over 3f out, never a factor
Verdict
King Of Country made only a modest start at Newmarket but gets plenty of weight from the other Godolphin runner Royal History, with the latter making his belated debut. John Gosden's yard won last year's renewal and run Al Rifai, the first foal of a Group 2 winner, but BLACK KEY is preferred. The latter caught the eye staying on well for fourth from off the pace over 1m2f at Windsor a fortnight ago and this longer trip looks the logical next step for Hughie Morrison's charge.
Formwatch
Royal History New Approach gelding out of Tessa Reef.
Mateka 12-1 (9-0) Held up, weakened over 2f out, last of 9, well behind Tamasha (9-0) at Salisbury 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Sep.
Al Rifai (IRE) Galileo colt out of Lahaleeb.
Black Key 12-1 (9-5) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway on rail over 2f out, just pushed along and kept on steadily into 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Isamol (9-5) at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gd.
Falmouth Harbour 66-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, pushed along over 4f out, never dangerous, last of 14, 35l behind Logorrheic (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2yo mdn auc stks (5) pol in Nov.
King Of Country 10-1 (9-5) Close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 10l behind Global Force (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (4) gf.
Sthenic (FR) Fastnet Rock colt out of Ela's Giant.
Toad Corner Shirocco gelding out of Didbrook.