Racecards
14:50 Newcastle
La Taxis Maiden Stakes (str) (Class 5)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 1m 3y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
- Winner: £2,590
- 2nd: £771
- 3rd: £385
- 4th: £192
- Form 78
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Trainer T D Walford
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
behind, pushed along over 4f out, some headway over 2f out, no impression
Tarooq (USA)
16- Form 22
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
chased leaders, challenged over 2f out, pushed along and soon led, hung left inside final furlong, ran on well
- Form 2
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 67
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer J R Norton
- Jockey P Mulrennan
slowly away, always behind, weakened from 4f out
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey P Pickard
slowly away, towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, soon weakened
- Form 87-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey R Ffrench
chased leaders, ridden well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 92
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon every chance, no extra inside final furlong
Colamandis
24- Form 775574
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 48
- Trainer H A McWilliams
- Jockey P Mathers
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 5
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey P McDonald
slowly away, towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, nearest at finish
Rukhsana
37- Form 8
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Trainer C J Teague
- Jockey D Heslop
towards rear, pushed along over 6f out, never dangerous
- Form 97
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Trainer Pat Morris
- Jockey Stephen Craine
towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never a factor
Verdict
Colamandis has the benefit of experience but doesn't appear to be developing, whilst Talent Scout once passed through the sales ring for 160,000 guineas but dropped to a price of £13,000 in August last year and with two poor runs so far is hard to back. Family ties suggest that Tarooq may enjoy the all-weather more than the turf but he has placed second in his first two runs and could be a big danger in this race. Apache Warrior was only a length behind the victor at Ripon on his first start and has to have leading claims but we tentatively side with the well-bred WILD GEESE who has shown plenty of greenness in two runs so far. His dam won the Oaks (as well as other impressive wins) and Mark Johnston's colt could progress markedly on his two runs so far.
Formwatch
Talent Scout (IRE) 50-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, lost place over 3f out, 8th of 11, 29l behind Bella Noir (8-12) at Newcastle 7f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gs in Aug.
Tarooq (USA) 11-4 (9-11) Tracked leaders, headway 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out until inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Mainland (9-11) at Ripon 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gd in Aug.
Apache Warrior 16-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, challenged and every chance over 1f out, no extra close home, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Al Muthanaa (9-3) at Ripon 1m 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gd in Aug.
Cotton King 100-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along 3f out, never near leaders, 7th of 12, 12l behind Call To Reason (8-12) at Newmarket 1m mdn stks (4) sft in Aug.
Fight For You (IRE) Antonius Pius gelding out of Amiela.
Janie's Encore 22-1 (10-10) Prominent, ridden 4f out, weakened well over 1f out, 6th of 11, 34l behind Lovey Dovey (11-1) at Hexham 2m NH flat (6) gs in Jun.
Original Dancer (IRE) 10-3 (9-3) Chased leader, pushed along, lost place 3f out, 7th of 8, 18l behind Unshakable Will (9-3) at Ayr 7f 2yo mdn (4) gd in Sep '09.
Wild Geese (IRE) 3-1 (9-3) Chased winner, ridden 3f out, hung left 2f out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Tamarillo Grove (9-3) at Hamilton 1m 1f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gd in Aug.
Colamandis 28-1 (8-2) Led, hard ridden and strongly challenged over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 13l behind Gifted Apakay (9-7) at Newcastle 1m 3yo fll hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Aug.
I Spy Baileys 25-1 (8-12) Held up in 5th, went 4th inside final 6f, ridden well over 2f out, soon struggling, weakened to 5th entering final 2f, tailed off, last of 5, 15l behind City Ground (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Aug.
No Rain (IRE) Noverre filly out of Rain Dancer.
Rukhsana 80-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, in rear, struggling from 3f out, last of 8, 25l behind Nimue (9-0) at Thirsk 7f fll mdn stks (4) gf in Jul.
The Chester Giant 100-1 (8-12) Soon in rear, edged left and weakened over 3f out, 7th of 10, 22l behind Taqleed (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 3yo mdn (5) gs in Aug.
Honest Buck 100-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden and kept on from 1f out, no impression, 7th of 15, 9l behind Law To Himself (9-3) at Ripon 1m 3yo mdn (5) gd in May.