Lake Forest ran a decent enough race, but didn't have the turn of foot that the winner showed.
Fair play to the winner; he is a proven Group 1 horse over the years, and he enjoyed every inch of those seven furlongs.
Dorigo was under the pump from the beginning, so the fact he got as close as he did in fourth was surprising. Obviously, he missed the places by one, but they didn't stay towards the far side, which I thought, so the rail I thought he'd use didn't come into play.
Havana Anna 2/1 – Naas 4.00
If a horse from outside the top four in the market wins this, it would be a fairly big shock. In the world of Fillies & Mares, you do get some strange results, but this would still be a step too far.
Soul Love and Dancing Saxon are closely matched. The Karl Burke filly came out on top when they previously met, and at the time I didn't really believe in the form. The runner-up (Dancing Saxon) was 80 rated before that race, but he went to the Galway Festival and won easily in a handicap, so her rating was definitely not a true showing.
First Instinct is the favourite at the time of writing, and she probably deserves that spot. She is a year older than the other fancies, which can count for a lot. She ran well at York last time out, and has Group form as a three-year-old as well. I think she could be vulnerable to Havana Anna, who didn't fire last time out, but before that she was looking solid.
Her best form has come over six furlongs, so maybe the five furlongs at the Curragh wasn't for her liking. She finished fourth in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot (Group 1), and that form looks solid. Venetian Sun had all the hallmarks of being a very strong sprinter for years to come, but has encountered an injury. The third was fifth in the July Cup, and then runner-up in a French Group 1, with the winner in that race being sixth in the Royal Ascot race.
Havana Anna was restless before the start of her Royal Ascot run, so she might've got even closer if she kept a cool head. In my opinion, that is the best form to go off, and I'd make her the favourite.
Orthodox 9/4 – Deauville 2.50
Unless I've forgotten a very good sprinting performance, I think the best sprinting juvenile this season has been Orthodox, and I don't think he's run over his best trip…until now.
Clive Cox knows when he has a very good two-year-old on his hands, and you can usually tell when the money is down. The money came in for Orthodox at Royal Ascot after just one run. I was a little hesitant, but when you watched the race live, it was impressive.
This horse has a very good turn of foot, and when the jets kick him, he looks deadly. I believe that six furlongs will be even better for him. He wasn't stopping at the line at Ascot, so there's no reason to believe that the extra distance won't be beneficial for him.
I don't think this will be a walk in the park, as we've got some smart-looking opponents. However, 5/2 seems a fair price, and I think he'll probably stay around this price.
GambleAware