Doncaster preview: Weatherbys Hamilton 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (15.40)
Published:
Humphrey Bogart caught the eye last time out, and looks the answer to the big valuable two-year-old sales race at Doncaster (15.00).
The Richard Hannon trained colt shaped nicely when a tenderly handled third on his debut and showed the benefit of that experience to open his account next time up over course and distance.
After being held-up in touch, Humphrey Bogart made good headway two from home and ran on strongly to score with more in hand the the winning margin of one length suggests.
It was a taking performance and one which saw connections pitch the son of Tagula into the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York three weeks ago.
Humphrey Bogart ran well to finish fourth to Recorder, and shaped far better than the 4 1/2 lengths he was beaten.
He travelled powerfully on the bridle for much of the 7f contest, and stayed on well at the death after failing to quicken when immediately asked.
It was an effort which suggested Humphrey Bogart had a bigger performance in him, and this represents a drop in class.
Another plus is that Hannon does well in this type of contest and, with Sean Levey in the saddle, everything points to a big run.
Twin Sails brings the strongest form into the race and looks the main danger.
This Dean Ivory trained colt won his first two starts in impressive fashion before running a blinder to finish a 3/4 length fourth to Galileo Gold in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Twin sails then disappointed when last of four in a Listed contest at Newbury, but raced far too keenly in the early stages an can easily be excused that run.
The return to a bigger field will suit, and off an official rating of 105 Twin Sails is the highest rated in the line-up and well-treated by the race conditions.
Coral’s top tip: Humphrey Bogart looks decent value to get the better of Twins Sails and land a valuable juvenile pot for the Hannon team.
