Kirklees to council his rivals at Doncaster
The three -year-old lines up in a select field for the 10.3 furlong race and should only have to show the form he showed last season when with Mark Johnston to see of his rivals given natural improvement over the winter (and summer). Now in the care of Godolphin, the colt advertised his potential when scoring at Catterick on his second appearance as a juvenile by five lengths despite being colty before the race and noticeably edgy in the stalls.
That was to be his last win in England but lost little in defeat at Goodwood, York and Ascot on three subsequent runs with the pick being his runs coming at York where he finished fourth behind subsequent 2000 Guineas 1-2 Cockney Rebel and Vital Equine with that pair split that day on the Knavemire by Derby runner-up Eagle Mountain. The high quality form of that race was backed up with an excellent time figure making it one of the most important two-year-old races of last season.
Kirklees finished the season winning a soft Group One in Italy but showed a willing spirit in doing so. If fit on his return he looks set to be hard to beat and having won on a variety of grounds no change in the weather looks set to spoil his chance in a race where the conditions are very much in his favour.
Should fitness let him down or for those looking at forecast then it may pay to side with Richard Hannon’s Duke Of Tuscany - another favoured by the way the race is framed. The three-year-old, aside from a below par run at Goodwood, has been in fine fettle all season and showed on his latest start at Kempton that he remains in good order.
The form that could win him this race was put up at Newbury in May when he only narrowly failed to land a competitive handicap when beaten by subsequent dual winner Zaham. A repeat of that run would entitle him to go close and gain a most deserved first win of the year. His last success came on this day last season at Sandown.
Henry Cecil has enjoyed better fortune this season and his Many Volumes would not be without a chance given he has the pick of recent form on his side. The three-year-old’s performance at Newmarket in the Kleinwort Benson Stakes in July came in a race that has thrown up plenty of wins and good runs from many who took part. Should Many Volumes be able to put in a similar performance then there is no reason to see why he can’t be in the firing line at the very least as the leaders bear down on the finishing line.
