Racecards
15:50 Sandown Park
Fink Gala Stakes (Listed)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f 7y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 10/895-1
- Age 5
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer Mrs A J Perrett
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
led, hard pressed from over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, eased inside final furlong
- Form 361-974
- Age 5
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 107
held up 3rd, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, no chance afterwards
- Form 1111/37-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer W R Swinburn
- Jockey T Quinn
held up in rear, ridden 3f out, never able to trouble leaders
Green Noon (FR)
213- Form 12/4598-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey M Dwyer
tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, one pace and lost 2nd inside final furlong
- Form 31-01
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer B J Meehan
- Jockey R Hills
dwelt, in rear, headway on outer from 2f out, led over 1f out, quickened impressively, soon clear, easily
- Form 21-647
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Richard Hughes
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace, kept on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
Shambar (IRE)
358- Form 4/353-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer P R Chamings
- Jockey R L Moore
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
From our shortlist of David Junior, Weightless, Leporello and Grand Passion, we will side with David Junior. David Junior looked a smart prospect when scoring at Newmarket last time and he can build on that here. The obvious dangers are Weightless, who caused a surprise when scoring over course and distance last time and clearly has plenty of ability, the Walter Swinburn-trained Leporello, who was scoring in Group 3 company in 2003 and, although lightly-raced since, his trainer feels he is set to go well today, and Grand Passion, who won at Listed level last summer in Ireland, and whose reappearance run in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over course and distance was a fair one. Green Noon won at Group 1 level at two and has shown enough since to suggest that she could go well in this grade, while the Dee Stakes fourth, Forward Move, has also displayed ability, although he does seem to have a few pounds to find to win here. Once again, then, the one we think they all have to beat is David Junior.
Formwatch
Weightless 14-1 (8-10) Raced freely, made all, kicked on 3f out, soon in command, ran on strongly, won at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gs in Apr beating Hazyview (8-10) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Grand Passion (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) Held up last, kept on under pressure final 2f, pressed for 3rd near finish, no chance with first 2, 4th of 5, 2l behind New Morning (8-7) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf in May.
Leporello (IRE) 3-1fav (9-7) Held up towards rear, effort and pushed along 3f out, no headway final 2f, 7th of 11, 5l behind Passing Glance (9-9) at Epsom 1m 1f Grp 3 (A) gd in Jun '04.
Green Noon (FR) (9-0) Held up, making headway when impeded over 1f out, not recover, 8th of 12, 9l behind Madhya (9-0) at Saint-Cloud 1m lst fll stk hvy in Nov.
David Junior (USA) 5-2 (8-12) Held up, headway 4f out, chased leader 3f out, led on bit over 2f out, ridden clear, won at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo lst stk (1) gd in May beating Hallhoo (9-1) by 8l, 5 ran.
Forward Move (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Mid-division, outpaced over 3f out, soon driven along, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 15l behind Indigo Cat (8-11) at York 1m 2f 3yo lst stk (1) gf in Jun.
Shambar (IRE) 66-1 (8-12) In touch, went 3rd over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Fruhlingssturm (9-4) at Epsom 1m 2f stk (C) gs.