Epsom preview: Sea Of Snow hot stuff in Woodcote Stakes
Published:
David Metcalf | June 2, 2016
Sea Of Snow can sail to success in Woodcote Stakes
Trainer Mark Johnston has a terrific record in the Woodcote stakes and Sea Of Snow can further enhance it with victory in this year’s renewal of the 6f Listed contest at Epsom (14.00).
The Middleham handler has won the race five times, including with Buratino 12 months ago, and in Sea Of Snow has a filly who has looked a very smart prospect in winning both her starts.
After overcoming greenness to get up close home and score by a neck over 5f at Windsor, the daughter of Distorted Humour showed a good attitude to follow-up over the minimum trip at the same venue when beating Legendary Lunch by 1/2 a length.
Better to come now stepped up in trip
Sea Of Snow looked far more streetwise, and after showing plenty of pace to chase the leader kept on strongly when produced to take up the running inside the last to score with a bit more in hand than the winning margin suggests.
There was lots to like about the way in which she dug deep and found more to fend off the runner-up, and it was a performance which suggested there was even better to come.
Sea Of Snow is also bred to appreciate the step up in trip, and with William Buick in the saddle can complete the hat-trick.
Hyperfocus feared most
Legendary Lunch looks an obvious player, but there appeared to be no excuses for the Richard Hannon trained colt at Windsor and I can’t see any real reason why he should turn the tables on the selection.
Hyperfocus and Tibr both scored in good style on debut, and the former could well prove the biggest danger to Sea Of Snow.
Trained by Hugo Palmer, the son of Intense Focus looked one to keep onside when sprinting clear to score by five lengths at Lingfield last month.
Although what Hyperfocus beat is questionable, the manner of the victory suggested he had a huge engine and was potentially an above average sort.
This represents a big step up in class, but Hyperfocus hails from a yard that know the time of day and has reportedly come on a bundle for the outing and strengthened up significantly.
Related
Coral’s tip tip: Sea Of Snow rates a solid bet to provide trainer Mark Johnston with another winner of the Woodcate Stakes. Hyperfocus can chase her home.
