When VENTURA DIAMOND could finish only fourth of five in a nursery at Newmarket last month after her really taking win at Goodwood previously, it was a big surprise.
It's possible that Richard Fahey's filly found the seven furlongs just too far on the July course, especially as she lost two places in the final half furlong, so a slight drop in trip may enable her to confirm those favourable earlier impressions in the British Stallion Studs EBF "Carrie Red" Fillies Nursery at Doncaster on Thursday.
At Goodwood, I was much taken with Ventura Diamond's attitude as she got her head down when it mattered and won going away from the newcomer Illykato (who won next time at Windsor and then ran fourth in a Group Three at Salisbury) and the re-opposing fourth Meu Amor who has since won at Pontefract.
With a 4lb pull in the weights from the Newmarket runner-up Sky Angel, even though she seemed to run a bit below-par, Barry McHugh's mount looks worth another chance over this unusual six-and-a-half furlongs trip.
The bet365 May Hill Stakes features two highly regarded fillies in Zabeel Queen, a winner at Ascot first time out, and Indigo Queen (a full sister to the smart middle distance stayer Journey) who made a similarly impressive debut at Yarmouth.
The market is focusing strongly on the pair even though the quality of their form is hard to assess whereas, at a big price, DUBAI FOUNTAIN has quite solid credentials.
I tipped Mark Johnston's filly for the Solario Stakes at Sandown last time and it wasn't the brightest decision as she found taking on colts a bit beyond her, notwithstanding that she was never able to dominate as in earlier starts.
Previously, Dubai Fountain boasted two wins and two seconds from her first four outings, and might have been unfortunate in the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket when caught by the 66-1 chance Star Of Emaraaty (who she had previously finished in front of at Sandown behind the smart Fev Rover) as that rival came with a late rush wide down the stands side.
Perhaps Star Of Emaraaty has suddenly found some improvement but there was something a bit freakish about her victory that day and the stoutly-bred selection is fancied to endorse previous superiority now up to a mile for the first time.
Later on, UNCLE JUMBO can hit the jackpot in the valuable Weatherbys Racing Bank £200,000 Two-Year-Old Stakes.
A close relation of the smart sprinter Major Jumbo, Kevin Ryan's grey showed a great attitude to beat the now 96-rated odds-on favourite Significantly on this course (6f) first time out and was then far from disgraced in the Goffs Sales race at York when keeping on well in fourth behind the smart pair Happy Romance and Devious Company.
Uncle Jumbo was possibly a little inconvenienced that day racing on the near side some way apart from the principals, but he remains a good prospect and this extra half furlong should suit him.
On ratings, the selection has a bit to find with Yazaman who finished runner-up in quality contests at Royal Ascot, Newmarket and Goodwood earlier in the summer, but William Haggas's colt looks a bit regressive having failed to cut much ice when a blinkered sixth in the Gimcrack last time, and connections now try a visor.
Posted at 1650 BST on 09/09/20
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