Unfortunately it wasn’t to be for Havana Magic for us at Lingfield earlier this week. She broke well enough but she pulled hard early on and she eventually faded in the closing stages. I still think she is a filly to keep a close eye on, particularly when she is stepped up further in distance. I think she is capable of winning a race off her current rating, she just might need a bit more time.
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| Donjuan Triumphant winning at Haydock last season. |
Tomorrow is Sprint Cup day at Haydock, a race that has been won by some superb racehorses on the past. The likes of Quiet Reflection, Regal Parade, Society Rock and Dream Ahead have won this race in recent years, and Harry Angel added his name to the list last season. He is going to go off a short price to defend his crown, especially now the rain has arrived, but I like one at a much bigger odds who will also be delighted with underfoot conditions.
Donjuan Triumphant hails from the in form Andrew Balding yard and this 5yo is a son of previous winner Dream Ahead. Just like his old man, Donjuan Triumphant loves to get his toe in and it would be no surprise if the rain came as a result of connections doing a rain dance. He is a serious tool when conditions are right, and he has a superb record at Haydock.
He has career form figures of 22011 at the Merseyside venue and his last two wins have come here on heavy and on good to soft. Okay, he was well beaten in this race two years ago as a 3yo but he is a couple of years older now and he is a much stronger horse. Plenty of sprinters improve as they get older, especially horses that relish heavy ground.
Donjuan Triumphant has been campaigned exclusively at 7f so far this season, and the sole occasion he got heavy ground he was beaten just a neck in a Listed race at Leicester. He ran a blinder on ground plenty quick enough for him behind Sir Dancealot at Goodwood in a Group 2 on his penultimate start, and you can put a line through his last effort on rattling quick ground behind Expert Eye at York.
Andrew Balding’s charge is versatile tactically, as he can go on or, as he did in his win at Haydock on heavy last year, he can be ridden patiently and produced late. Given Harry Angel’s racing style I think he will be held up on Saturday and Rob Hornby will try to produce him in the closing stages. Hornby has ridden Donjuan Triumphant once before, and he finished second on him.
The slower the ground tomorrow, the better it will be for Donjuan Triumphant and on the evidence of Friday’s action at Haydock, conditions look sure to be extremely taxing. I think the drop back to 6f on heavy ground in a strongly run race could be just what the doctor ordered for Donjuan Triumphant and at odds of 33/1 he looks worth chancing each way.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: 4.15 HAYDOCK-DONJUAN TRIUMPHANT E/W @ 33/1
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