Royal Ascot 2015: Britannia Stakes preview (17.00)
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Sahaafy is on a serious upward curve and can defy a rise in the weights to land an ultra-competitive renewal of the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The Barry Hills-trained colt opened his account at the second time of asking when staying on strongly to win a 1m maiden at Newbury in good style, and then found the only the smart Always Smile too strong on handicap debut at Doncaster.
Sahaafy then got back to winning ways in emphatic style at Newmarket when romping to a facile five length success.
The three-year-old showed plenty of pace to chase the leaders, and after taking up the running two from home sauntered clear to win very easily.
It was a a career-best performance, and one which suggested Sahaafy needed keeping firmly on side.
Although now 11lb higher in the weights, that may not be enough to stop the son of Kitten’s Joy going in again given his progressive profile.
Capel Path has shaped well in two starts this season and looks an obvious danger now stepped up in trip from what could be a lenient handicap mark.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt caught the eye when keeping on to finish third of 12 to Desert Force at Newbury, and then ran a blinder over 7f at this venue when running on strongly under tender handling to be beaten two lengths by Mister Universe.
Capel Path was doing all his best work at the finish in the latter, and the step up to 1m looks sure to suit.
The son of Street Cry, who is owned by the Queen, looks to have been laid out for this and Stoute has enjoyed tremendous success over the years with similar types.
Another that could go well at a big price is the Richard Hannon-trained King To Be.
The colt ran well on his penultimate start when fifth of 17 in a decent handicap at York and looked a desperately unlucky loser last time out when beaten a nose at Goodwood.
King To Be endured a nightmare passage in the latter when coming from miles off the pace, but flew home when eventually seeing daylight and it was an effort which suggested the three-year-old was well-treated at present.
