Top commentator Simon Holt has two against the field in Saturday's Qatar Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood.
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PROJECTION, a horse who has long looked capable of winning a major sprint handicap, could finally click for the cameras in Saturday's Qatar Stewards' Cup on the final day of the Goodwood Festival.
Roger Charlton's four-year-old has run some fine races in this type of event and led his group home on the unfavoured stands side of the course when third to Out Do in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot on his latest start, finishing a neck behind runner-up Steady Pace with Polybius just behind him in fourth on the stands side, Danzeno (far side) fifth, Edward Lewis (far side) sixth, Eastern Impact (far side) seventh and Raucous (stands side) eighth.
That result brings only narrow margins into play, but Projection has course form after a somewhat unlucky run when fifth in the Stewards' Sprint (Consolation Race) here 12 months ago, and then a subsequent third at Newmarket worked out very well.
Kieran Shoemark's mount was said to have needed the race after an eight month absence back at Newmarket in May so his Wokingham run was a big step forward and confirmed that, with only 10 career starts, he remains a sprinter of promise. One slight negative is that Shoemark has lost his right to claim since Ascot but I'm hoping his mount can find a bit more improvement.
Moreover, Charlton has won this race three times in the past (with Harmonic Way, Patavellian and Genki) and Projection seems ground versatile having won at Salisbury on good to soft going in 2015 whereas Polybius and Danzeno, his nearest pursuers at Ascot, may not appreciate too much give.
Since the Wokingham, the latter pair filled the first two placings on a return visit to Ascot over five furlongs where Danzeno turned the tables on Polybius with the very much in-form Pipers Note just over two lengths behind them in third. Up 6lb now, Danzeno might struggle to confirm those placings but the race provided a decent boost to Projection's effort.
Others worthy of a mention are Growl, who looked to be on the way back to form after a wretched first half of the season when sixth in the July Cup last time, and Tropics who also showed signs of a revival at Newmarket on his latest start and has finished sixth to Rex Imperator (2013) and fifth to Magical Memory (2015) in this race off much higher marks in the past.
But the horse who could be a danger to them all is SIR DANCEALOT whose second to Above The Rest in the Bunbury Cup (7f) was a good effort.
David Elsworth's three-year-old, the mount of Ryan Moore, is undeniably well handicapped racing off a 5lb lower mark here yet will race off 9lb higher in future handicaps.
Sir Dancealot has a habit of starting slowly and will need to cope with the drop in trip, but these big-field sprints often require a bit of stamina and he'll be reeling them back in the closing stages. I suggest a small interest in addition to Projection.
Earlier, CRYSTAL OCEAN is given another chance to fulfil his undoubted potential in the Group Three Qatar Gordon Stakes despite being narrowly held by Khalidi on their running behind Permian in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting.
I was very keen on Sir Michael Stoute's colt for that race and felt a bit disappointed afterwards but, in retrospect, ground conditions were probably a bit quick for him, certainly compared to his earlier eye-catching third behind Permian and Benbatl on good to soft going in the Dante Stakes at York on just his third career start.
With moisture remaining in the ground here, Crystal Ocean can turn the tables on Khalidi, who has had a good deal more racing and may not be open to similar improvement.
Finally, sticking with another previous selection, SHRAAOH could be the one to be on in the Qatar Summer Handicap over a mile-and-three-quarters.
Frankie Dettori's mount was another selection who let us down(!) at Haydock early last month but he just lacked toe over the mile-and-a-half trip that day before keeping on to finish third behind Dylan Mouth, and this return to a longer trip on a course where he recorded a career best last season when beaten a short-head by the smart Dal Harraild at this meeting should be absolutely ideal.
Shraaoh will need to prove he can handle the ground but, with cheek-pieces now fitted, there will be further disappointment in this quarter if he can't get the job done this time.
Posted 1050 BST on 04/08/2017
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