Glorious Goodwood 2016: Thikriyaat ticks all the right boxes
Published:
David Metcalf | July 28, 2016
Thikriyaat looks tasty in Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes
Thikriyaat ran a blinder when runner-up last time out, and can go one better to get back to winning ways in the Group 3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood this Friday (14:35).
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, this colt won his first three starts in the manner of a rapidly improving sort and performed with huge credit when stepped up into Group 3 company and finding only Ribchester too good in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.
After being held-up off the pace by jockey Paul Hanagan, and forced to race virtually alone in the centre, the three-year-old kept on really strongly from the three marker to be gaining all the way to the line and be beaten 2 1/4 lengths.
Terrific effort and more to come
Given how the race panned out, it was a terrific effort as he was drawn out wide and had to race away from the pace on the far side rail.
The track was also favouring those ridden prominently and Thikriyaat was the only one to finish with any purpose from off the pace.
It was a performance which can be marked up form-wise, and it looked a decent renewal of the 7f contest as the winner has gone on to run a stormer to be a fast finishing third to The Gurkha in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at the Glorious meeting earlier in the week.
Stepping up to 1m in this should also suit given how the selection finished off the race, with Thikriyaat clearly on an upward curve and open to further improvement after just four career starts.
Emotionless bidding to get back on track
Emotionless takes a drop in grade, so on the pick of his juvenile form would be a big player.
The Charlie Appleby trained colt won his first two starts as a two-year-old in the manner of a potential Classic horse in the making, before bombing out when last of seven to Air Force Blue in the Group 1 Craven Stakes.
Emotionless was the off the track for 248 days before finishing a 9 3/4 length fifth of seven to Galileo Gold in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The three-year-old never got involved after dwelling at the start and although not knocked about still has questions to answer and needs to prove that he has trained on.
Forge not to be underestimated
Forge put in a career-best effort when third in the Jersey Stakes, after finishing just a neck behind stable companion Thikriyaat, and looks sure to go well.
Although this colt had the run of the race that day, there was lots to like about the way he travelled into the contest and the return to a quicker surface may well see him in a better light.
Forge should also appreciate the extra furlong, has the services of Ryan Moore in the saddle, and hails from a yard that brings its horses along slowly to eke out improvement with every run.
Related
Coral’s top tip: Thikriyaat is on a serious upward curve and rates a solid bet to get back to winning ways. The lightly-raced Forge is feared most as Emotionless still has questions to answer.
