Glorious Goodwood 2016: Monteverdi and Projection among Saturday tips
Published:
David Metcalf | July 29, 2016
Monteverdi makes plenty of appeal
Trainer Jamie Osborne has a good record in big handicaps, and Monterverdi can cash-in what what looks a handy mark to provide him with another winner in the Qatar Stakes on the final day of Glorious Goodwood (16:55).
The colt looked a smart prospect when winning at Newbury on his sole start as a juvenile, then ran an excellent race on his return to action when runner-up to Acclaim on handicap debut at Newmarket.
Monteverdi backed that up with a cracking third of 20 to Castle Harbour in a very hot handicap at York – a race which has thrown up plenty of subsequent winners.
Things haven’t gone to plan in two subsequent outings, but those runs have been on soft ground and more suitable going may well see Monterverdi in a far better light.
A mark of 88, the same as what he ran off at York, certainly looks exploitable and connections are also now fitting the the son of Kyllachy with the cheekpieces for the first time.
If the headgear has the desired effect, then Monteverdi looks weighted to take all the beating on the pick of his form.
Projection and Moore a potent combination
Projection was a huge eye-catcher on his seasonal reappearance, and looks the answer to the 6f Qatar Stewards’ Sprint Handicap that gets proceedings underway on the final day of this meeting (14:00).
This Roger Charlton trained son of Acclamation won two of his five starts at a juvenile, and in the last of those posted an improved effort when beating Tabarrak by a neck in a conditions contest at Salisbury.
Projection hung right after taking up the lead a furlong from home but ran on strongly to score with a bit more in hand than the winning margin suggests.
The runner-up has since progressed well to be rated 105, and that made Projection’s opening handicap mark of 99 look exploitable.
Run full of promise at Newmarket
Having been off the track for 228 days and gelded, Projection ran really well off it when fourth of 20 to Dancing Star in an ultra-competitive contest at Newmarket.
After being held-up travelling well under George Baker, the three-year-old was constantly denied a clear run when try to make a move approaching the final furlong and – when switched right to see daylight – kept on strongly to be beaten just 1 3/4 lengths.
Projection was gaining all the way to the line without being unduly knocked about, so looks sure to come on a bundle for the outing.
It was a performance which suggested he was ahead of the assessor and, with Ryan Moore taking over in the saddle, connections clearly mean business.
Saturday tips
14.00: Projection (NAP)
14.35: Gold Faith
15.10: Minding
15.45: Dancing Star
16.20: Ray’s The Money
16.55: Monteverdi (NB)
18.00: Bathos
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