It has been a while since my last blog post due to some unforeseen
circumstances but we are back in action at Kempton on Wednesday evening. My
last selection, Chica Buena, ran no sort of race at Gowran Park and she is probably
one for nurseries. She showed definite promise under a tender ride first time
up and she will be of interest when sent handicapping and upped in trip.
As many of you will have seen on my social media I became a
winning owner on Friday last at Dundalk. Quiet Company surprised trainer,
jockey and syndicate members alike with his thrilling victory and he has been raised
5lb by the handicapper for winning by a nose. We didn’t think he had it in him,
as you may have guessed by his sp of 33/1, but personally speaking it is a
night I will never forget and hopefully he is on the improve now. He will be
back at Dundalk soon to try and repeat the trick.
 |
| Amanda Perrett does well at Kempton. |
Tonight at Kempton I like the look of one in the opening
nursery handicap at 17.40 and I think the step up in trip and switch to the all
weather could spark an improved performance from Alaskan Star. This 2yo son of
Kodiac has been disappointing since a very encouraging debut at Goodwood (5f
gd) when he finished in close proximity to some very useful horses. He kept on
very nicely for 6th, beaten just over 3L by May Remain and that horse is now
rated 86.
The 3rd home went on to win a handicap off a mark of 68 and
the 4th, Pursuing The Dream, subsequently won a Listed race in France and is
rated 100. That horse finished just over a length in front of Alaskan Star at
Goodwood and it was no surprise that Amanda Perrett’s charge was sent off at
just 5/1 on his second maiden start at Lingfield (5f gd/fm).
He never looked like living up to those odds that day,
trailing home 7th of 8 beaten almost 9L. He was gelded and given a couple of
months off after that below par effort and he was entitled to need his comeback run at
Brighton when finishing a well beaten last. He was handed a mark of 63 for his
handicap debut at Bath late last month (5f gd/fm) and with the cheekpieces
applied for the first time he ran a decent race at huge odds.
He got outpaced a couple of furlongs out and was denied a
clear run at a vital moment but he stayed on encouragingly for 7th, beaten just
over 5L and shaping as if further would suit. He was kept at 5f last time out
off a reduced mark of 60 and he was well beaten on the soft ground at Chepstow.
Every cloud has a silver lining though, and the handicapper has dropped him to
a mark of 56 after that tame effort.
I think he hated the underfoot conditions at Chepstow and he
is better judged on his staying on 7th on his penultimate start at Bath. The
way he finished that day suggested that further would really suit and he races
over his longest trip yet at Kempton. There is hope in his pedigree regarding
the new trip too, as three of his five winning half siblings have won over a
mile.
Steve Drowne keeps the ride on Alaskan Star and he has 11
wins and 30 top 4 finishes from 111 rides for Amanda Perrett. There is more
encouragement to be gleaned from Perrett’s fine record at Kempton where she has
sent out 80 winners and 200 top 4 finishers from 585 runners (a frame hitting
strike rate of 48%).
Perrett has had a couple run well at big prices in the
past week and if Alaskan Star builds on the form of his penultimate run he
could produce an improved performance at huge odds. At his current price of 33/1 he is worth
chancing each way for small stakes in a wide open race.
STEVOS’ SELECTION:
17.40 KEMPTON-ALASKAN STAR E/W @ 33/1
No comments:
Post a Comment