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Vintage Stakes preview

Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes
Group Two, 7f
Glorious Goodwood

Preview by @twoyearoldtips, originally published here.

Ahlan Emarati- Ready winner on debut at Bath and has followed that up with two creditable placed efforts in Group company since, his second to Kool Kompany having been well franked by that horse taking the Papin on his next start. As likeable as he is, he is no megastar and it would a touch disappointing were he to prove good enough. Looks short enough in the market, and opposable.

Chadic- Won impressively from the front at the third time of asking at Ayr but the form is modest in the context of this race. Jockey bookings suggest he is the weaker of the Johnston pair and looks to have it all to do.

Dr No- Richard Hannon-trained individual who was all the rage on debut before running disappointingly at Nottingham. Has proved that form to be all wrong since however, firstly when besting the July Stakes runner up at the same venue and then with a solid 7th in the Coventry Stakes. That form has a solid look to it, but it must be significant that he has been passed over by Richard Hughes. Another who looks tight at the current prices.

Faithful Creek- Bushranger Colt who is a half brother to last years useful juvenile Peter Mac. Has been improving for the experience and won in decent style last time out. However he will need to take another massive leap forward to take this.

Highland Reel- Aidan O Brien raider who arrives here with a massive reputation following a twelve length romp at Gowran Park on his second start. That performance was visually impressive and the third has since downed his highly rated stable mate John F Kennedy. The drop in trip is a slight concern, he hails from a family choc full of top grade middle distance performers in Australia, as is the fact he takes up his engagement here. This isn't a race that O Brien targets very often and Duke Of Marmalade was the last top class horse he ran here in 2006. He was beaten before proving himself a superstar and it would be no surprise to see this horse follow a similar path. May well prove a class above but all things considered he cannot be a play at the odds.

Pallister- Improving son of Punctilious, who comes here searching for a hat trick. Both of those wins were over six furlongs and very likely the extra distance today will bring out further improvement. He done plenty wrong when winning last time and he will need to be less green if he is to prosper over this course. However looks to have plenty of latent talent and looks overpriced for a trainer who targets this meeting and won this with the brilliant Shamardal in 2004.

Room Key- A winner at Salisbury on debut before finishing second in a Novices Stakes on his second start at the same venue. The winner of that contest has since been well beaten in a listed contest and he will need to improve plenty to take this.

Tupi- £100k son of Tamayuz who looked a colt with a bright future when winning on debut at Sandown. The form of those in behind has been mixed but he is still unexposed and is the choice of Richard Hughes, who is looking for a fifth consecutive win in this contest. Looks to have been saved for this contest and rates a big danger to the favourite.

Verdict- A race that revolves around Highland Reel, who looked every inch the Ballydoyle superstar when romping home be a dozen lengths on his second start. It is therefore quite surprising he ends up here with his trainer having never won the race and not having had a representative since Cornish in 2008. The team that have farmed this race of late, winning the last four renewals, appear to have the main danger in the unbeaten Tupi. He has only won a maiden, but was well fancied for that race and won it in impressive style. He looks a great chance of making five in a row for the East Everleigh outfit. Pallister is bred to be useful and hails from a stable who make good at this meeting and he looks overpriced and could reach the frame

1 Tupi
2 Highland Reel
3 Pallister


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