Sandown Preview (14.30): Shifting can Power to success
Shifting Power has some top class form to his name and looks a worthy favourite to make a winning reappearance in the Group 2 bet365 Mile at Sandown today (14.30).
The Richard Hannon trained colt was unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile and kicked off last season with a game display to land the European Free Handicap at Newmarket.
Connections decided to let Shifting Power take his chance in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on the back of that success, and the son of Compton Place belied his odds of 50/1 to finish a cracking three length fourth of 14 to Night Of Thunder in the Group 1 classic contest.
Shifting Power backed that up with a solid second to the brilliant Kingman in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, and then went down by just a neck to Charm Spirt in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.
That is top class form in the context of this contest, and although Shiting Power disappointed on his final start last season when well beaten in a Group 3 at Goodwood his handler reports him to have strengthend up significantly over the winter.
Hannon also has a terrific record in this contest having saddled five winners in the past seven years, and another plus is that Shifting Power is a course and distance winner.
The quick ground will also be in the four-year-old’s favour, and on the pick of his form Shifting Power looks the one they all have to beat.
Of the opposition, Bow Creek appeals as the one most liekly to take advantage should Shifting Power fail to live up to expectations.
The colt showed improved form to land Group 2 contests at Goodwood and Leopardstown on his final outings last season when trained by Mark Johnston, after which he was purchased by Godolphin an sent to Charlie Appleby.
The form of Bow Creek’s 1/2 length defeat of Mustajeeb in Ireland reads well in relation to this race, and there is every chance that the son of Shamardal could have more to offer now fitted with cheekpieces for the first time.
However, the four year-old has to give 4lb to Shifting Power and that looks a stiff ask if the selection brings his “A game” to the table.
