Steady Pace smacks of a solid each-way bet for the nine-runner, group two, Gimcrack Stakes over six furlongs of ‘good to soft’ York on the fourth and final day of what has been another dramatic ‘Ebor’ meeting; bookmakers have probably made fortunes!
On Wednesday we witnessed Golden Horn losing an unbeaten record in the ‘Juddmonte’ and apart from Tasleet in the ‘Sales’ race little has gone right for punters unless, of course, they tuned into www.dailyearner.co.uk which gave Mayfair Lady, a resounding 12/1 winning nap!
Readers are well in profit due to our policy of specialisation with two-year-olds; the secret of winning is achieving consistency and this age group is definitely second to none when backing thoroughbreds with serious intent. Steady Pace is a typical example.
This Godolphin-owned Dark Angel colt won ‘first-up’ at Ascot in May, storming clear to beat subsequent winners Beaverbrook and King of Rooks comfortably; Steady Pace looked way above average but hasn’t won since from four attempts at the highest level.
When James Doyle rode him into third place against Washington DC in the ‘Windsor Castle’ over the minimum trip Steady Pace achieved his best time-handicap mark, which he nigh on replicated over an extra distance in the group two July Stakes at Newmarket; subsequently, at Goodwood, he disappointed but there again stall one draw might just have been a ‘coffin box!’
Listen it doesn’t pay to follow horses sentiment-wise and that’s not the case; ‘the boys in blue’ know that Steady Pace is up to beating King Of Rooks again and recently-defeated Buratino, as for the ‘Yankee’ raider Finnegan I’ll take my chance; on ‘process of elimination’ Steady Pace just has to occupy one of three placings, at good odds.
Ornate will be a strong favourite for the listed Roses Stakes over five furlongs but will need to improve if thrice-raced Kurland replicates her fourth in the ‘Queen Mary.’
Martyn Meade’s charge gets a 5lbs fillies’ allowance, is ideally suited to this trip (didn’t stay six at Newmarket!), and appears to have several pounds in hand; don’t oppose, this trainer is much under-rated!
Far from the madding crowd Richard Hannon-trained Danehill Kodiac looks a snip for the 2-y-o Maiden Stakes over a mile of Chelmsford polytrack; hopefully you can supplement gains, or get back losses; he’ll win!