The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 10th August 2024

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from The Curragh, Haydock Park & Newmarket

The Curragh

FBD Hotels And Resorts Heritage Hotel Phoenix Sprint Stakes (Group 3) 3.25
Electric Storm
James Tate’s British raider can take this Group 3 contest with Electric Storm. This Night Of Thunder filly wouldn’t have to improve much from her run in the Prix de Ris-Oranjis at Deauville last time out to score, where she only found one too good in Shouldvebeenaring. With Group 1 entries in the Sprint Cup at Haydock Park and the Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot, Electric Storm is highly rated and looks to have more to offer at the top table. James Fanshawe’s Kind Of Blue also makes the trip over, while home hopes Moss Tucker and Givemethebeatboys complete the shortlist. A strong line-up for this Group 3, but Electric Storm gets the nudge

Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) 4.35
Babouche
A small field but a cracking contest where Babouche can serve it up to hot Favourite Whistlejacket. Ger Lyons’s unbeaten filly looked one right out of the top drawer when landing the Anglesey Stakes here last month, and in receipt of the 3lbs sex allowance should just edge it over Aidan O’Brien’s No Nay Never colt, Whistlejacket. That said, Whistlejacket did nothing wrong when taking the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket, making all from the front to confirm his rise through the ranks. Adrian Murray’s Arizona Blaze is a consistent sort, so should also be bang there, but Babouche gets the final verdict

Haydock Park

Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3) 3.00
Anmaat (nap)
It’s hard to ignore the appeal of Owen Burrows’s Anmaat to repeat his 2022 win in this Group 3. Still lightly raced with just the ten starts, he’s won six and added three runners-up spots to that fine haul. Anmaat goes well fresh, so the 14 month lay-off is not a concern, and if fully tuned up can dominate recent Listed winner, Al Mubhir, one of two from William Haggas’s Somerville Lodge yard. The three year old Bracken’s Laugh is progressive and in receipt of weight all round, and after a wind op may have more to offer so makes the shortlist, with classy Regal Reality the value each-way angle. Anmaat to regain the title for Owen Burrows

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Dick Hern Stakes (Listed) (Fillies & Mares) 4.45
Indelible
Ralph Beckett holds the key to this Listed race with Indelible, who has put in a couple of decent shifts since winning at Doncaster on her seasonal reappearance. She was first in her group on the far side in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot, and that was a hot handicap. The well bred American Arrow made no mistake on her maiden run here, so has to enter calculations for Ed Walker, with Saffie Osborne in the hot seat adding to the appeal, while Jack Channon’s Caernarfon is a useful type and hasn’t reached her ceiling yet, though does run under a penalty for her last run in a Group 3 at The Curragh. William Haggas’s Orchid Bloom is dropped in grade so makes each-way appeal, but the claims of Indelible are hard to rub out

Newmarket

JenningsBet Sweet Solera Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) 3.40
Mountain Breeze (nb)
Aidan O’Brien brings Lake Victoria over for the Sweet Solera, and she has dominated the ante-post markets since winning at The Curragh on her debut under rules. However, the preference is for Charlie Appleby’s Mountain Breeze, who already has two wins and a runners-up spot here at Newmarket. In her last run here at Headquarters, the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes, she was within a length of the smart Arabian Dusk, solid form from that Fillies’ Group 2 to bring to this grade. Andrew Balding’s Flaming Stone took far too keen a hold with William Buick up top last time out, in a Listed contest at Sandown Park, but should come on for that run with Oisin Murphy booked for the trip, so also has a shout. Mountain Breeze to score with home advantage, while Flaming Stone and Lake Victoria can battle it out for the place money

The Mandarin